PURPLE PLANTAIN SEEDS

Plantago major var. rubrifolia

ORGANIC

The common broadleaf plantain, employed for millennia as both food and medicine and the bane of modern suburban men with no real hobbies besides maintaining their lawns. This selection features leaves in shades of purple and red and is a very charming addition to informal permacultural landscapes. Easy to see and a fascinating study in how incredibly efficient this species is in colonizing available space.

Plantain leaves are edible and make a very useful impromptu topical in the field, where they soothe everything from bug bites to sunburn to the intense sting from contact with fresh nettles. Extractives of the species contain the unique and powerful flavanoid baicalein, and are employed by various modalities as a gentle anti-inflammatory. As with the common dandelion, we find this much maligned weed to be an oft overlooked non-toxic medicinal and an exceptionally nutritious salad plant.

These seeds germinate best with some cold and should be sown directly into the garden in spring while nights are still pretty chilly or in autumn. The seeds of this species, though tiny, are tough and long-lived and will germinate inevitably no matter when and where they are sown, save for dark shade and tropical climates. Once established they will self-sow just as readily as the common green plantain. Please be considerate of any neighbors that might not appreciate having purple plants invade their lawns.

Packet contains at least 100 seeds.