What is Plantain Leaf?

Plantain Leaf is the dried leaf of Plantago major, Common Plantain, a low ground-hugging herb in the family Plantaginaceae. This is not the tropical banana relative: the starchy cooking "plantain" is Musa paradisiaca, an entirely different plant. Plantain leaf comes from the small lawn herb often dismissed as a weed.

About the plant

Plantain grows across lawns and disturbed ground almost everywhere and is one of the most universally used herbs in Western and Native American tradition, carrying folk names such as Soldier's Herb, White Man's Footprint, and Cuckoo's Bread. Legend even holds that Alexander the Great encountered it and carried it back to Europe. It has a long documented history in traditional topical and skin preparations.

Related herbs

• Psyllium Seed — a South Asian relative in the same genus.

Plantain Leaf: form & sizes

We carry Plantain Leaf as cut and sifted dried leaf, sold by weight in sizes from 1 oz to 1 lb. We make no health or therapeutic claims.

Storage

Store Plantain Leaf in an airtight container, away from heat, light, and humidity, to preserve its color and aroma.

Plantain Leaf at a glance

Botanical name

Plantago major

Family

Plantaginaceae

Native region

Europe and Asia; now naturalized worldwide

Plant part

leaf

Also known as

Common Plantain, Soldier's Herb, White Man's Footprint

Not to be confused with

Banana plantain (Musa paradisiaca), an unrelated fruit

Form

cut and sifted dried leaf

Sizes

1 oz to 1 lb