Plantago virginica
Dwarf plantain
(c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · licence
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Plantago virginica (Dwarf plantain) is a non-native California herb in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by unisexual flowers and pale brown deeply concave seeds.
Dwarf plantain is a naturalized annual found in the Central Valley, southern California coastal areas, and Shasta County in sandy or disturbed places at elevations below 1,000 meters. Flowering in May, this plant produces small white to pale green flowers in narrow spikes 3 to 33 centimeters long. Growing with fine, long hairs and delicate stems, it reaches heights of 10 to 30 centimeters. Its leaves are widely oblanceolate, 2 to 12 centimeters long, tapering to the base and sometimes slightly toothed along the edges. The plant produces two pale brown seeds, each with a distinctive concave inner surface.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 14 sympatric species; diagnostic unisexual flowers and pale brown deeply concave seeds
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy or disturbed places, often weedy
Elevation: < 1000 m
California counties: San Diego, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Orange, Fresno, Riverside, Butte, Kings, Del Norte, Shasta, Sacramento
Outside California: native to central and eastern United States
Bloom period
Plantago virginica blooms May.
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 virginica native to California?
No. Plantago virginica is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Plantago virginica bloom?
Plantago virginica blooms May.
Where in California does Plantago virginica grow?
Plantago virginica occurs in San Diego, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Orange, Fresno, Riverside, Butte, Kings and other counties, at elevations of < 1000 m.
What plant family does Plantago virginica belong to?
Plantago virginica is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Plantago.
What habitat does Plantago virginica grow in?
Plantago virginica grows in Sandy or disturbed places, often weedy.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Plantago arenaria — Indian plantain
- Plantago aristata — Bristly plantain
- Plantago coronopus — Buckhorn plantain
- Plantago elongata — Annual coast plantago
- Plantago erecta — California plantain
- Plantago eriopoda — Hairy fruited plantain
- Pseudorontium cyathiferum — Deep canyon snapdragon
- Pseudorontium sp.
- Stemodia durantifolia — Purple stemodia
- Stemodia sp.
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.