Plantain (Japanese) – Seeds

Fibre is not a new requirement to our digestive system as it is found in so very many old texts as one of the keys to great health.
Growing your own is so simple and so space friendly that it’s ridiculous.
Plantain is often listed as an annual but we have so many two and three year old plants in the garden that I have to disagree with the premise.
As with Plantago major (a close cousin), the leaves are often used to speed healing, treat urinary infections and even conjunctivitis.
Psyllium’s great strength though lies in the tiny seeds and husks that the plant so generously produces.
Being able to absorb up to 25 times their own weight in water, thus creating a soothing gel, they are used in many laxative formula’s and slimming products.
The seed strikes extremely easily and the thick stemmed rosettes are very decorative in the garden. They self seed well so you are able to harvest the convenient seed heads as much as you need to and you will still have left enough for the next generation.
We have them spaced around the garden, best in full sun, as an interesting foliage break between many of the annuals. They are quite drought tolerant once established and ours survive winter frosts even if they do burn slightly.