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Field ManualAll plants

Photo: Ivar Leidus, via Wikimedia CommonsLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0

Ribwort Plantain

Plantago lanceolata

Family: Plantaginaceae

Pet & Human Safety

People: Skin irritant to peoplePets: Not on the ASPCA lists as we read them
Hazardous parts
Not yet checked.
Preparation
Not a food plant; no preparation guidance is given.
Hazard type
Not yet checked.
Hazard route
none stated: NC State Plant Toolbox page has no poison or dermatitis section
How complete this information is
The safety information on this page is partial. Where a source covers a point, it is shown; where none does, the page says so.

Toxic to pets
No ASPCA entry found.

No ASPCA page exists for this species and the NC State page has no pet tag, so it has not been assessed; that is not a clearance. Do not use the Plantain Lily (toxic) or banana plantain (non-toxic) ASPCA pages for this plant.

PlotAndPetal cannot tell you whether a plant you found can be eaten. Only someone who can see the plant can identify it.

Look-alike warning
Could be mistaken for Other plants with a similar name or look. To tell them apart: Match on the scientific name, Plantago lanceolata, not on the common name.. "Plantain" is also the name of other plants. ASPCA lists Plantain Lily (Hosta), toxic to dogs, cats and horses, and lists "Plantain" as a name for the banana plant (non-toxic). NC State notes this plant is often confused with Plantago major. Do not use a "plantain" pet-safety result from another plant for this one.

Poison control

If someone has collapsed, cannot be woken, is having a seizure or has trouble breathing, call 911 now. For any other possible poisoning, call Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222.

Emergency number source: U.S. federal law (47 U.S.C. § 251(e)(3)), read 2026-10-07.

Naturalist Lore

Historical Background & Breeding Lore

The history of this plant and its name, and how it was bred, where we have them.

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Care

Hardiness zones

USDA 5a-9b (NC State)

Light

Full sun

Mature size

Flowering stems 6 to 18 inches, slightly furrowed (NC State stem description); NC State lists no height or width attribute.

Where it comes from

Europe, including Britain (NC State).

Soil & Drainage
Pruning & Flush Rhythm
Feeding Schedule

How to prepare the soil, when and what to feed, and how and when to prune where that applies.

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Anatomy & Guilds

Botanical Anatomy & Characteristics

How the flowers and leaves are built and which pollinators visit, where we have them.

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Field Doctor

Field Doctor

What can go wrong with this plant and what to do about it, where we have them.

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Vintage Plates

Vintage Plates

Old botanical drawings from public libraries are in the app, for plants where we have them.

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Sources

  1. NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, Plantago lanceolata
  2. Plantlife, Top 10 Flowers to Find in Your No Mow Movement Lawn
  3. ASPCA, Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants: Plantain Lily (cited for the naming warning only)
  4. California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC) Inventory, Plantago lanceolata
  5. ASPCA, Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants (database index)

How we choose sources

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