Pollinator plant

Plantains

Plantago major

Linked agroforestry plant data
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Common names

116 names · 51 languages
EnglishYour language
+31 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (50)
Dutch
French
Afrikaans
  • breeblaar[2]
  • breeblaarplantago[2]
  • breėblaar[2]
+12 more namesShow fewer names
  • Breėblaar plantago[2]
  • Groot weebree[2]
  • groottongblaar[2]
  • grootweeblaar[2]
  • grootweegblaar[2]
  • grootweegbree[2]
  • grootweėblaar[2]
  • platvoet[2]
  • weegblaar[2]
  • weegbredie[2]
  • weegbredieblaar[2]
  • weegbree[2]
Belarusian
  • Трыпутнік вялікі[2]
Bulgarian
  • Голям живовлек[2]
Catalan
  • Plantatge gros[2]
Cherokee
  • ᎾᎾ ᎤᏕᏱᏘ[2]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 大车前[2]
  • 宽叶车前[2]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 大車前草[2]
  • 寬葉車前[2]
  • 田貫草[2]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
Cree
Czech
  • jitrocel větší[2]
Danish
  • Glat vejbred[2]
Downriver Halkomelem
  • sɬéwən ƛ̓ pipa:m[2]
Estonian
  • suur teeleht[2]
Faroese
  • stórvaksin gøtubrá[2]
Finnish
  • piharatamo[2]
German
Greek
  • Πεντάνευρο το μεγάλο[2]
Hebrew
  • לחך גדול[2]
Hungarian
  • Nagy útifű[2]
  • Széles levelű útifű[2]
Indonesian
  • daun sendok[2]
Irish
  • Cuach Phádraig[2]
Italian
Japanese
  • オニオオバコ[2]
  • セイヨウオオバコ[2]
Korean
  • 왕질경이[2]
Latvian
  • Lielā ceļteka[2]
Lithuanian
  • Plačialapis gyslotis[2]
Mapuche
Mongolian
  • Их тавансалаа[2]
Norwegian
Ojibwe
  • Pakwan (Ceca'gûski'bûge'sînk, Jimûcki'gobûg)[2]
Polish
  • babka zwyczajna[2]
  • Plantago maior[2]
Portuguese
Purepecha
  • uitsákua shipiati[2]
Romanian
  • Pătlagină mare[2]
Russian
  • Подорожник большой[2]
Serbian
  • Женска боквица[2]
Slovak
  • skorocel väčší[2]
Slovenian
  • veliki trpotec[2]
  • Širokolistni trpotec[2]
Sotho
Spanish
+2 more namesShow fewer names
Swedish
Thai
  • หญ้าเอ็นยืด[2]
Tojolabal
Totonaco
Turkish
Ukrainian
  • Подорожник великий[2]
Upriver Halkomelem
  • sxu’enhween[2]
Welsh
  • Llydan y ffordd[2]
Zulu
  • indlebe-ka-tekwane[2]
  • indlebe-kathekwana enku[2]
  • indlebe-kathekwane enkulu[2]
Sources & name notes (3)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Plantago major — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Grote weegbree — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Plantain majeur — results[0].names[49]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • greater plantain — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Breitwegerich — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Broad Leaf Plantain — results[0].names[75]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Broad-Leaf — results[0].names[76]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • broad-leaved plantain — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Broad-Leaved Ribwort — results[0].names[77]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • broadleaf plantain — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • cart track plant — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Cart-Track Plant — results[0].names[78]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • common plantain — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • dooryard plantain — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Great Plantain — results[0].names[79]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Greater Plaintain — results[0].names[80]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • greater plantago — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • healing blade — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • hen plant — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Large Plantain — results[0].names[81]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Larger Ribwort Plantain — results[0].names[84]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Ribgrass — results[0].names[82]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Rippleseed Plantain — results[0].names[83]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • roadweed — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • roundleaf plantain — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • waybread — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • wayside plantain — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • white man's foot — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • white man's footprint — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • White-Mans-Foot — results[0].names[85]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Cancerina euroasiática — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • llantén — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • llantén mayor — results[0].names[52]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Llantén rastrogero — results[0].names[45]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Siete venas — results[0].names[106]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • grand plantain — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Piantaggine maggiore — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • tanchagem — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Tanchagem-graúda — results[0].names[102]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • tansagem — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
[2] Plantago major — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Grote weegbree — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Plantain majeur — results[0].names[49]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • greater plantain — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Breitwegerich — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Broad Leaf Plantain — results[0].names[75]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Broad-Leaf — results[0].names[76]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • broad-leaved plantain — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Broad-Leaved Ribwort — results[0].names[77]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • broadleaf plantain — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • cart track plant — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Cart-Track Plant — results[0].names[78]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • common plantain — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • dooryard plantain — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Great Plantain — results[0].names[79]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Greater Plaintain — results[0].names[80]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • greater plantago — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • healing blade — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • hen plant — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Large Plantain — results[0].names[81]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Larger Ribwort Plantain — results[0].names[84]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Ribgrass — results[0].names[82]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Rippleseed Plantain — results[0].names[83]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • roadweed — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • roundleaf plantain — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • waybread — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • wayside plantain — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • white man's foot — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • white man's footprint — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • White-Mans-Foot — results[0].names[85]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Cancerina euroasiática — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • llantén — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • llantén mayor — results[0].names[52]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Llantén rastrogero — results[0].names[45]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Siete venas — results[0].names[106]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • grand plantain — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Piantaggine maggiore — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • tanchagem — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Tanchagem-graúda — results[0].names[102]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • tansagem — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • amté — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • snok-tail — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • uitsákua shipiati — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • groblad — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • daun sendok — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • 大車前草 — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • 車前草 — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • 田貫草 — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • piharatamo — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • לחך גדול — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • jitrocel větší — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • babka zwyczajna — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Glat vejbred — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • suur teeleht — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • セイヨウオオバコ — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Подорожник большой — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • groblad — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Plačialapis gyslotis — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Pakwan (Ceca'gûski'bûge'sînk, Jimûcki'gobûg) — results[0].names[44]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Plantatge gros — results[0].names[46]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • 大车前 — results[0].names[47]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • オニオオバコ — results[0].names[48]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Подорожник великий — results[0].names[50]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • skorocel väčší — results[0].names[51]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Πεντάνευρο το μεγάλο — results[0].names[53]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • damarotu — results[0].names[54]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Их тавансалаа — results[0].names[55]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • stórvaksin gøtubrá — results[0].names[56]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • veliki trpotec — results[0].names[57]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Plantago maior — results[0].names[58]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Трыпутнік вялікі — results[0].names[59]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • breeblaar — results[0].names[60]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • breėblaar — results[0].names[61]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Breėblaar plantago — results[0].names[62]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • breeblaarplantago — results[0].names[63]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Groot weebree — results[0].names[64]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • groottongblaar — results[0].names[65]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • grootweeblaar — results[0].names[66]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • grootweėblaar — results[0].names[67]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • grootweegblaar — results[0].names[68]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • grootweegbree — results[0].names[69]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • platvoet — results[0].names[70]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • weegblaar — results[0].names[71]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • weegbredie — results[0].names[72]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • weegbredieblaar — results[0].names[73]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • weegbree — results[0].names[74]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • bolila — results[0].names[86]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • indlebe-ka-tekwane — results[0].names[87]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • indlebe-kathekwane enkulu — results[0].names[88]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • indlebe-kathekwana enku — results[0].names[89]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Bodiba, Bodila — results[0].names[90]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • paswêpak — results[0].names[91]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • หญ้าเอ็นยืด — results[0].names[92]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • 왕질경이 — results[0].names[93]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Širokolistni trpotec — results[0].names[94]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Голям живовлек — results[0].names[95]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Nagy útifű — results[0].names[96]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Pătlagină mare — results[0].names[97]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Széles levelű útifű — results[0].names[98]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Lielā ceļteka — results[0].names[99]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • ᎾᎾ ᎤᏕᏱᏘ — results[0].names[100]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Cuach Phádraig — results[0].names[101]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Llydan y ffordd — results[0].names[103]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Женска боквица — results[0].names[104]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • Pintra — results[0].names[105]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • 寬葉車前 — results[0].names[107]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • 宽叶车前 — results[0].names[108]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • sɬéwən ƛ̓ pipa:m — results[0].names[109]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
  • sxu’enhween — results[0].names[110]; taxon id 58961; Plantago major.
[3] Plantago major — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Broad-leaved plantain — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Plantago major.
  • Cart Track Plant — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Plantago major.
  • Cuckoo’s bread — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Plantago major.
  • Doorweed — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(4); heading: Common Name(s):; Plantago major.
  • Dooryard plantain — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(5); heading: Common Name(s):; Plantago major.
  • Englishman’s-foot — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(6); heading: Common Name(s):; Plantago major.
  • Great plantain — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(7); heading: Common Name(s):; Plantago major.
  • Plantain — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(8); heading: Common Name(s):; Plantago major.
  • Ripple grass — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(9); heading: Common Name(s):; Plantago major.
  • Roundelay plantain — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(10); heading: Common Name(s):; Plantago major.
  • Snakeweed — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(11); heading: Common Name(s):; Plantago major.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Botanical family
Plantaginaceae

Genus-level classification for Plantago; this does not confirm the complete catalogue name.

Sources [1]
Taxonomy
NC State Extension publishes a profile under Plantago major.

Profile-name match; no accepted-name status is asserted.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Clumping; Dense; Mounding; Multi-stemmed; Oval; Prostrate; Rounded

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Medium

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Occasionally Wet

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Spring; Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: butterflies.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Native range
Temp. Eurasia to Arabian Pen., Macaronesia, N. & S. Africa.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [3]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Medium suitability
Nectar value Unknown
Pollen value Medium
Agroforestry database

Complete plant information

Open full plant profile

Structure

Vegetation layer
Herbaceous
Size
Small
Dimensions
0.10 m high × 0.10 m wide
Lifecycle
Perennial

Site conditions

USDA hardiness
3-12
Moisture
Moist
Soil
Sandy, Loamy, Clay
pH
Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
Light
Sun

Uses

Edible parts
Leaves, Root, Seed, Tea
Functions
Pollinator plant
Edibility
2 out of 5
Medicinal value
3 out of 5

Young leaves can be eaten both raw and cooked, but due to their bitterness and fibrous strands, they must be carefully prepared. It is recommended to blanch the leaves in boiling water before adding them to salads, as this improves the texture. The petiole contains more fiber than the leaf and is therefore usually not eaten. The dried leaves can be used to make tea. An alternative Chinese variant of this plant is easier to eat. Seeds can be eaten both raw and cooked and are very nutritious due to their high vitamin B1 content. Although harvesting the seeds can be challenging, they can be ground into flour and mixed with other flour, or cooked and used as sago. There is less known about the edibility of the root of this plant.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Plantago — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: Botanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 2326658; ID 6RHN; rank genus; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Plantago major — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: TaxonomyPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: Main botanical heading (h1)
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Plantago major — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 317440; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 1071991, 1071992, 1071994, 1071996, 1071997, 1071998, 1071999, 1072000, 1072001, 1072002, 1072003, 1072004, 1072005, 1072006, 1072007, 1072008, 1072009, 1072010, 1072011, 1072012, 1072013, 1072014, 1072015, 1072016, 1072017, 1072018, 1072019, 1072020, 1072021, 1072022, 1072023, 1072024, 1072025, 1072026, 1072027, 1072028, 1072029, 1072030, 1072031, 1072032, 1072033, 1072034, 1072035, 1072037, 1072038, 1072039, 1072048, 1072049, 1072050, 1072051, 1072052, 1072053, 1072059, 1072060, 1072061, 1072062, 1072063, 1072064, 1072065, 1072066, 1072067, 1072068, 1072069, 1072070, 1072071, 1072072, 1072073, 1072074, 1072075, 1072076, 1072077, 1072078, 1072079, 1072080, 1072081, 1072082, 1072083, 1072084, 1072085, 1072086, 1072087, 1072088, 1072089, 1072090, 1072091, 1072092, 1072093, 1072094, 1072095, 1072096, 1072097, 1072098, 1072099, 1072100, 1072101, 1072102, 1072103, 1072104, 1072105, 1072107, 1072108, 1072109

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.