Plantago maritima, commonly known as Sea Plantain, Seaside Plantain, or Goose Tongue, is an herbaceous perennial native to a variety of habitats including coastal areas, salt marshes, and alpine regions in temperate and Arctic zones. This plant is found across Europe, northwest Africa, northern and central Asia, northern North America, and southern South America. It typically forms dense rosettes of linear, fleshy leaves and produces inconspicuous greenish-brown flowers on erect spikes during the summer months. The flowers are not particularly showy, but they do attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

Sea Plantain is valued for its resilience to salty environments and its ability to thrive in poor, sandy soils, making it a suitable choice for coastal and wildlife gardens. It is often used in soil stabilization projects on sand dunes and can be planted in rock gardens or as part of a native plant collection. In cultivation, it requires minimal maintenance, tolerating drought and saline conditions well. Sea Plantain prefers full sun to part shade and can handle a range of soil types, provided they are well-draining. It is also known for its edible leaves, which can be consumed raw in salads or cooked like spinach, and its seeds, which can be ground into a nutritious flour. However, gardeners should be aware that in some areas, it can spread vigorously and may need to be managed to prevent unwanted colonization.CC BY-SA 4.0