Broadleaf Plantain (often found in lawns, though technically a broadleaf weed rather than a true grass)
Plantago major · Perennial broadleaf weed
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Lawn Weed / Invasive Weed
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 3-10
Grass Family
Plantaginaceae (Plantain family, not Poaceae)
Variety / Cultivar
Wild type
About This Grass
The image shows a broadleaf plantain plant with wide, oval to elliptical green leaves featuring prominent parallel veins, growing amidst various turfgrasses and clover. It forms a flat basal rosette that crowds out surrounding lawn grass when established.
Blade Characteristics
Not a grass blade; leaves are broad, oval, smooth or slightly wavy-margined, measuring up to several inches wide with distinct parallel veins running from base to tip.
Root System
Tough, fibrous taproot system with a short rootstock, allowing it to survive in compacted soils and bounce back after mechanical removal.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Eurasia, now globally naturalized in temperate and subtropical regions
Growth Habit
Rosette-forming, low-growing perennial with a short, thick taproot
Sunlight & Water Needs
Thrives in full sun to partial shade; prefers moist, compacted soils but has high adaptability and can withstand dry spells by going dormant.
Mowing & Maintenance
Low-growing nature allows it to survive low mowing heights easily, enabling it to persist in heavily maintained lawns without proper weed control.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional tolerance to soil compaction, heavy foot traffic, and poor drainage. Resistant to many standard selective herbicides without specific broadleaf weed treatments.
Ecological Information
Introduced species often considered an invasive weed in managed turfgrass. However, its seeds are an important food source for certain birds, and the plant has historical medicinal uses.