Ribgrass Plantain, also known as Ribwort Plantain or Narrowleaf Plantain, is a versatile and hardy herbaceous plant that features low-growing rosettes of long, lance-shaped leaves with prominent parallel veins that give a ribbed appearance. Its flower spikes rise above the foliage and produce multiple small, tubular, greenish-white or pale brownish coloured flowers densely packed together.
 
Ribgrass Plantain is renowned for its medicinal properties, often used in traditional herbal medicine. Rich in bioactive compounds like aucubin and allantoin, it is known for its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and wound-healing properties, making it useful to soothe skin irritations, alleviate insect bites, and promote the healing of minor wounds. Additionally, its leaves are used to make soothing poultices and infusions for respiratory issues, and it is rich in dietary fibre, making it beneficial for digestive health when consumed as an edible plant.
 
Easy to cultivate and often considered a common ‘weed’, it thrives in diverse environments, presenting a valuable natural remedy and a valuable food source for certain wildlife and insects.

Common Name: Ribgrass Plantain

Botanical Names:
Plantago Lanceolata

Family: Plantaginaceae

Other Names:
Buckhorn
English Plantain
Lamb's Tongue
Narrowleaf Plantain
Ribleaf
Ribwort Plantain

Origin: Northern Asia, Central Asia, Western Europe (United Kingdom, From Iceland To Spain)

Duration: Perennial

Habit: Low, herbaceous, clumping growth habit; Basal rosettes of leaves close to the ground; Long, lance-shaped leaves with prominent parallel veins; Inconspicuous flower spikes emerging from the centre of the rosette, with small, tubular green-white or pale brown densely packed flowers, Easily spreads across land; Wind-pollinated; Grows up to 10 to 60 centimetres (3.94 to 23.62 inches)

Hardiness: Hardy