This perennial herb has a tufted habit with ascending flower stems. The linear bright green leaves form a flat rosette and numerous small whitish flowers appear in a spike on a long stem during summer.

Hardiness zones 6 to 11

Plantago lanceolata is naturally found in Europe growing in disturbed well drained, fertile to poor sandy moist soils. It prefers an open sunny position and is frost and drought tender.

Ribwort is not normally cultivated in gardens but is grown for its herbal qualities and is used in alternative medicine. It is planted in pots or tubs and in vegetable gardens. It is normally regarded as a common weed. ID 817

Plantago(plan-TA-go) lanceolata (lan-see-o-LAT-ah)

Plantaginaceae (plan-TAJ-in-AY-see-ee)