Pale Indian Plantain

A tall, upright flowering species with unusual flowers and leaves, this plant is often found growing in moist soils. Flowers are upright white and green tubes (July-August), and are somewhat showy but not ostentatious, turning to wind-distributed seeds in August and September. Leaves are also somewhat unusual, and quite showy, with a blue-green cast and almost hand-shaped lobes, paler and waxier on the bottom of the leaf than on top. The stem is often purple, making the foliage stand out even more, although the first year (sometimes up to three years) after seeding, this species tends to grow only as a basal rosette of leaves. Tolerates occasional flooding, sand, clay, and acid soil, and can often be found growing along streamsides. The flowers are shaped in a way that tends to attract our large native wasps, who can act as an excellent natural biological control when drawn to a garden or meadow space, serving as predators for pest insect species. A bold-looking plant that's quite easy to grow and tends to spread by seed, making it ideal for adding diversity to a moist meadow or filling a space.

3-8 foot tall
Plant Hardiness Zones: 5b-9a
Perennial
Deer Resistant

Native Range: NY south to FL, west to LA, OK, KS, NE, and MN. Rare in NJ, DE, OK, and NE

Pale Indian Plantain in a quart pot $15.50

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