Botanical Name:
Plantago lanceolata
Common Names: Ribgrass or English Plantain
Plant type: Grass style perennial
Host for: Host plant for many butterfly caterpillars.
Baltimore checkerspot
Euphydryas phaeton,
Common Buckeye Junonia coenia,
Painted Lady Vanessa cardui, White Peacock
Anartia jatrophae, and
Phaon Crescent Phyciodes phaon caterpillars will eat plantain.
Zone: not listed
Light: Sun, light shade, shade
Size: grows to 2 feet
Water: Drought tolerant
Soil: Well drained soil
Propagation: seed
Bloom: white
Note:
Butterfly Bloom Attractant: 0
Butterfly Attractant Scale: 0 - 10
10 = Excellent nectar source
8-9 = Great nectar source
6-7 = Good nectar source
5 = Fair nectar source
3-4 = Poor nectar source
1-2 = Rarely visited by butterflies
0 = We have never observed a butterfly nectaring from this flowering plant.
These ratings are offered by Shady Oak Butterfly Farm from observations in Brooker, Florida, as well as on our travels. Different species of butterflies may be attracted to different plants in different areas of the US and of the world.