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Erba Stella Plantain
Plantago coronopus
Robust, frost-hardy plant with tender, elongated leaves in a star-like rosette, hence the name “Star Grass” in Italian. The leaves are shaped like antlers (buck’s horns) at the ends. Sweet, salty, nutty, and great for salads, tea, or blanched as a side dish. This seaside plant is native to Eurasia and North Africa, and can grow as a biennial in many parts of North America in partial to full sun and moist, well-draining soils.
Also known as Buckshorn Plantain, Herba Stella, and Minutina.
Photo by Magnus Hagdorn via Flickr and Creative Commons.
Days to Maturity: 50-100
Seeds per pack: 175
Germination rate: 73% on 09/15/2023
Planting / harvesting notes
Prefers partial shade to full sun and well draining soil. Direct sow in spring or fall, tamping down seeds with back of rake, barely covered. Keep soil moist until germination. You can also start seeds indoors and transplant. Space plants 1' apart.
Seed keeping notes
Harvest seedheads after they dry on the plant. If necessary, dry the seedheads further away from moisture and precipitation. When fully dry, whack the seedheads in a bucket, allowing the ripest seed to fall. Sift through strainers to remove the largest chaff, and then winnow off the lighter chaff with your breath, a fan, or the wind.
