Plantago lanceolata
English plantain
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Plantago lanceolata (English plantain) is a non-native California herb in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by lanceolate ribbed leaves and grooved peduncles.
English plantain is a naturalized perennial herb found in California's Foothill Parklands in disturbed areas at elevations below 1,600 meters. Flowering from April to August, this plant produces small, inconspicuous flowers in dense, narrow spikes 2 to 8 centimeters long. Growing with stout taproots and short stems 20 to 80 centimeters tall, it forms robust clusters in open ground. Its distinctive leaves are lanceolate, 5 to 25 centimeters long, tapering to a narrow base and finely toothed along the edges. The plant produces one to two small seeds approximately 3 millimeters long, characteristic of its weedy, widespread nature.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 16 sympatric species; diagnostic lanceolate ribbed leaves and grooved peduncles
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Disturbed areas
Elevation: < 1600 m
California counties: Humboldt, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, San Diego, Orange, Marin, Los Angeles, Mendocino, Amador, San Bernardino, Monterey, Siskiyou, Butte, Tulare, San Mateo, Riverside, Kern, Placer, San Francisco, Fresno, Santa Clara, Lassen, Trinity, Inyo, Ventura, Nevada, Napa, Santa Cruz, Lake, Alameda, Yuba, Tuolumne, El Dorado, Sonoma, Del Norte, Contra Costa, Sierra, Mono, Sutter, Calaveras, San Joaquin, Alpine, Sacramento, Yolo, Stanislaus, Modoc, Solano, Tehama, Shasta, Glenn, Colusa, Merced, Plumas, Mariposa
Outside California: native to Europe
Bloom period
Plantago lanceolata blooms Apr-Aug.
Conservation status
Cal-IPC Yes
How to tell it apart
vs Carex: Plantago has broad ribbed leaves in rosettes; Carex has narrow grass-like leaves in 3 ranks.; vs Rumex: Plantago leaves have parallel veins; Rumex leaves have a prominent central midvein with branching veins.; vs Dudleya: Plantago has thin ribbed leaves; Dudleya has thick succulent leaves.; vs Micropus: Plantago has dense cylindrical spikes; Micropus has woolly flower heads in leaf axils.; vs Amsinckia: Plantago has parallel-veined leaves in rosettes; Amsinckia has bristly alternate leaves on upright stems.
Frequently asked questions
Is Plantago lanceolata native to California?
No. Plantago lanceolata is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Plantago lanceolata bloom?
Plantago lanceolata blooms Apr-Aug.
Where in California does Plantago lanceolata grow?
Plantago lanceolata occurs in Humboldt, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, San Diego, Orange, Marin, Los Angeles, Mendocino and other counties, at elevations of < 1600 m.
What plant family does Plantago lanceolata belong to?
Plantago lanceolata is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Plantago.
Is Plantago lanceolata invasive in California?
Plantago lanceolata is listed by Cal-IPC with an invasiveness rating of Yes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.