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Woolly Plantain

Plantago patagonica

Last reviewed: October 2026

Woolly Plantain (Plantago patagonica)
Photo: Patrick Alexander from Las Cruces, NM / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)

Toxicity unknown

Woolly Plantain (Plantago patagonica) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Woolly Plantain as toxic to livestock.

Light

full sun

Water

low

Size

2"–12" H × 2"–6" W

Bloom

May, Jun, Jul, Aug

Native to

AR, AZ, CA, CO and 32 more states

Pollinators

bees, beetles

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 459 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Puget LowlandSouthern California MountainsNorthwestern Forested MountainsNorth American DesertsCentral Basin and RangeMojave Basin and RangeSouthern RockiesArizona/New Mexico MountainsChihuahuan DesertsHigh PlainsSouthwestern TablelandsCentral Great PlainsGreat PlainsCross TimbersEdwards PlateauSouthern Texas PlainsTexas Blackland PrairiesEast Central Texas PlainsSouth Central PlainsEastern Temperate ForestsCentral Irregular PlainsNorthwestern Glaciated PlainsNorthwestern Great PlainsNorthern Glaciated PlainsWestern Corn Belt PlainsNorthern Lakes and ForestsNorth Central Hardwood ForestsDriftless AreaSoutheastern Wisconsin Till PlainsCentral Corn Belt PlainsSouthern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift PlainsInterior River Valleys and HillsMadrean ArchipelagoSonoran Basin and RangeSouthern California/Northern Baja Coast

Woolly plantain is a small native annual with soft, fuzzy leaves that form a low rosette. It produces inconspicuous flower spikes from late spring through summer and thrives in sunny, dry conditions with minimal care.

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In an HOA neighborhood

Woolly Plantain takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

  • Commonly perceived as a weed by most people
  • Annual lifecycle means bare spots when plants die
  • Very informal appearance doesn't match typical landscape expectations

Wildlife value

This plant provides nectar and pollen for native bees and beneficial beetles during its extended blooming period from May through August.

Common questions

How much sun does Woolly Plantain need?
Woolly Plantain grows best in full sun conditions.
When does Woolly Plantain bloom?
Woolly Plantain blooms in May, June, July, and August.
Where is Woolly Plantain native?
Woolly Plantain (Plantago patagonica) is native to AR, AZ, CA, CO and 32 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
Is Woolly Plantain toxic to livestock?
The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Woolly Plantain as toxic to livestock.
What pollinators does Woolly Plantain attract?
Woolly Plantain draws bees and beetles.
Is Woolly Plantain HOA-friendly?
Woolly Plantain takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

See all plant problem guides

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