Ribwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata) is in the Plantain Family family (Plantaginaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 3,749 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in June.
Nationally it blooms mainly from April to July, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Ribwort Plantain: observations by month (U.S.)
About Ribwort Plantain
Plantago lanceolata is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family Plantaginaceae. It is known by the common names ribwort plantain, narrowleaf plantain, English plantain, ribleaf and lamb's tongue. It is a common weed of cultivated land.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Ribwort Plantain by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 921 | April | Mar–May |
| Oregon | 282 | May | May–Jun |
| Washington | 236 | June | May–Aug |
| Illinois | 197 | June | May–Jul |
| New York | 189 | June | May–Jul |
| Kentucky | 135 | May | Apr–Jul |
| New Jersey | 123 | May | May–Jun |
| Tennessee | 121 | June | May–Jun |
| Vermont | 121 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Missouri | 119 | June | May–Jul |
| North Carolina | 112 | June | May–Jul |
| Massachusetts | 101 | June | May–Jun |
| Pennsylvania | 98 | June | May–Jul |
| Mississippi | 91 | April | Mar–Jun |
| Virginia | 81 | June | May–Jul |
| Maryland | 79 | June | May–Jul |
| Ohio | 77 | June | May–Aug |
| Wisconsin | 73 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Arkansas | 68 | June | May–Jun |
| Georgia | 46 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Michigan | 46 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Texas | 45 | April | Apr–May |
| Alabama | 41 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Indiana | 35 | June | May–Jun |
| Connecticut | 34 | June | May–Jul |
| Iowa | 32 | June | Jun–Jun |
| West Virginia | 27 | June | May–Jul |
| Colorado | 25 | July | May–Oct |
| New Hampshire | 20 | August | Jun–Aug |
| Florida | 18 | April | Apr–May |
| District of Columbia | 13 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Delaware | 12 | May | May–Jun |
| Kansas | 12 | June | Apr–Jun |
| Louisiana | 12 | June | May–Jun |
| Hawaii | 11 | April | Dec–Jun |
| Minnesota | 10 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Rhode Island | 10 | June | May–Jun |
| South Carolina | 10 | May | Apr–May |
| Idaho | 9 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Maine | 9 | June | May–Jun |
| Nevada | 9 | June | May–Jun |
| Nebraska | 8 | June | Jun–Jul |
| New Mexico | 7 | May | May–May |
| Oklahoma | 7 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Utah | 6 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Montana | 5 | June | Jun–Jul |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Plantain Family)
Bird's-Eye Speedwell
Common Toadflax
White Turtlehead
Purple Foxglove
Canada toadflax
Ghost Flower
Foxglove Beardtongue
Thyme-Leaved Speedwell
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Ribwort Plantain?
Nationally, June has the most observations, with the main season from April to July.
Where is Ribwort Plantain most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Oregon, Washington.