I fell in love with Narrow-leaved Plantain (Plantago lanceolata) when I first saw its cheerful blooms on walks at our West Virginia homestead. The blossoms would appear to dance in the afternoon sun, twisting and turning in the slightest breeze. I called them “Sparkle Flowers”!
They were so pretty, I didn’t recognize the little wildflowers as Plantains. I was used to the Broad-leaved Plantain (Plantago major), a well-known medicinal plant but a larger one that can look a little weedy. When I learned that my "Sparkle Flowers" were Narrow-leaved Plantain, with medicinal properties similar to Broad-leaved Plantain, it was a win-win for me – cute flowers on a medicinal plant that I could slip into my garden beds.
I grew plants from seed for our new Florida homestead this
year. Seeds from Strictly Medicinal Herbs, started in January, were ready for a garden border by March.
In May, I harvested my first leaves for Plantain Salve.
I cut them into pieces and arranged them on my dehydrator screens.
I infused the dried leaves, using the double-boiler method, in olive oil,
strained the oil, filtered it with a coffee filter, and saved it in a mason jar.
In my next post, I'll show how I make and bottle my Plantain Salve, and share some information on its traditional uses.
Strictly Medicinal Herbs describes how Narrow-leaved Plantain performs in gardens here:
https://strictlymedicinalseeds.com/product/plantain-narrow-leaved-plantago-lanceolata-seeds-organic/
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