Plantago maritima L.
Goose Tongue
Sea plantain is a native perennial of the coast, well adapted to salty, exposed conditions. It forms a tuft of fleshy, narrow, almost grass-like leaves that are slightly succulent, helping it cope with salt and drought.
About
Sea plantain is a native perennial of the coast, well adapted to salty, exposed conditions. It forms a tuft of fleshy, narrow, almost grass-like leaves that are slightly succulent, helping it cope with salt and drought. From the centre rise slender, unbranched stalks bearing long, cylindrical spikes of small greenish-brown flowers, similar in form to its inland plantain relatives but built for tougher ground.
Its strongholds are saltmarshes, sea cliffs, rocky shores and short coastal turf, and it also occurs on some mountains; it tolerates periodic flooding by seawater and thrives in full sun. The flowers are wind-pollinated, so the plant's chief value to wildlife is as part of saltmarsh and cliff vegetation and as a food source for grazing wildfowl, which gives rise to the name goose tongue. Its salt-tolerant young leaves have a long history of being gathered and eaten as a coastal green.
Also known as
Sea Kemp · Sea Plantain · Seashore Plantain · Seaside Plantain · goosetongue · saltmarsh plantain
Synonyms
Plantago canaliculata · Plantago coronopus · Plantago juncoides juncoides · Plantago loeflingii · Plantago maritima maritima · Plantago oliganthos oliganthos · Plantago subulata
In our seed mixes
Beta — under active development. This catalogue is still being built and accuracy-checked. The information here (including plant identifications, British native status, soil and sun/shade preferences) is provided in good faith for general guidance only and may contain errors or omissions. It must not be relied upon on its own — please confirm details with us before making planting, specification, foraging or purchasing decisions, and never eat or medicinally use any plant based on this catalogue alone, as some species are toxic. To the extent permitted by law, Phoenix Amenity Supplies accepts no liability for any loss arising from use of this information.