Plantain weeds Pest Notes updated

Plantains are common weeds in lawns, athletic fields, ornamental plantings, roadsides, and pastures. Two species, broadleaf and buckhorn plantains (Plantago major and P. lanceolate) are commonly found throughout California year-round.

Plantains grow well in irrigated turf and lawns that are frequently mowed since they grow low to the ground. They can be a major pest for turfgrass managers since they grow in dense clumps, creating both an aesthetic and tripping hazard in turf. When plantains infest ornamental plantings, they can crowd out desired plants.

These weeds are difficult to control because they can resprout from the crown, even after it's cut off. Early removal of seedlings before they establish dense crowns can be effective as well as mulching with landscape fabrics in ornamental plantings.

For more information on management, see the newly revised Pest Notes: Plantains. UCCE Advisor Maggie Reiter provides new color photos and references, updated species information, and an expanded section on currently registered herbicides to control plantains in California.