PlantFiles: Heller's Plantain
Plantago helleri

I have not grown this plant, but have observed it growing in its native habitat.

Heller's plantain (Plantago helleri) is a plant that is native to New Mexico and central and southwestern Texas and is typically found growing in sandy, limestoney or gravelly soil. The ones I observed ae growing in almost pure limestone. It reaches a height of about 8 to10 inches. The fuzzy leaves are more linear and thinner than some other species of plantain. It blooms from April through June. The flower spike is about 3 to 4 inches long and is on a thick fuzzy spathe. There are many bloom spikes arising from the base of the plant that has a taproot. The bloom petals are whitish and translucent. They turn a brownish-tan color as the blooms age. The blooms are followed by capsules which usually contain 2 seeds. It is a host plant for the common buckeye (Junonia coenia). I could find little information about it on the internet or in my native plant books.