Plantago depressa

At a glance
- Lifecycle
- Perennial (hardy)
- Exposure
- Full sun
Cultivation
We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Succeeds in any moderately fertile soil in a sunny position.
Propagation
Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in early summer. A sowing can be made outdoors in situ in mid to late spring if you have enough seeds.
Edible uses
Young leaves - raw or cooked.
Medicinal uses
Plantain seeds contain up to 30% mucilage which swells up in the gut, acting as a bulk laxative and soothing irritated membranes.
Habitat
Usually found under tree shade on waste ground, 1700 - 1900 metres in the Himalayas.
Native range
E. Asia - China, Korea, Himalayas.