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FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Bold is the word for this perennial.

Plant Description: In its first year from seed, pale Indian plantain forms a tidy rosette of unusual-looking, blue-green leaves that appear as if they are made of plastic. In subsequent years, the plant leaps to a height of three to nine feet. The leaves are held somewhat close to the red, sturdy stems, which keep the flowers aloft. It’s a great plant to include in a garden, providing verticality and structure behind other perennials

From its 1 foot wide basal rosette of plastic-looking leaves to the 8′ tall smooth pale purple stalk, this plant will be seen in the landscape. Tall herbaceous perennial growing 3-6′ and sometime to 8′ tall featuring flat topped clusters of tiny white tubular flowers in mid to late summer atop tick, rigid leafy flowering stalks rising from basal foliage. Blooms in summer. Fan-shaped basal leaves (to 12″” wide) are thick, leathery, and coarsely toothed and lobed, somewhat resembling very large sycamore leaves. Stems and lower leaf surfaces are covered with a grayish-white bloom hence the “”pale”” part of the common name.

The upper sides of the leaves are medium to dark green, while the undersides of the leaves and stems have a waxy, white coating. The leaves are irregular, fan-shaped, and coarsely lobed or toothed. The basal leaves are up to 8″” long and 6″” wide. Springtime will bring an unbranched stalk with alternate leaves of up to 8″” long and 8″” wide and reaching a height of up to 9′ tall. The leaves become smaller as they go up the stem.

The smooth central stalk is pale green to pale purple. Fine veins can be seen along the stem. They remain unbranched below the flower clusters.Flat-top clusters of small flower heads sits at the top of the central stalk, each containing 4 to 15 white to yellowish green flowers. The flowers have five lobes, are stiff, and slender. Blooming occurs from June to October.

HABITAT & HARDINESS: Can be found in open and rocky woodlands, woodland edges, thickets, slopes, wet meadows, riparian areas throughout the eastern United States. This species is hardy in USDA Zones 3-8.

CULTURAL & MAINTENANCE NEEDS: Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Prefers moist soils which do not dry out. Freely self-seeds in optimum growing conditions. If grown from seed, large basal leaves will appear the first year, but flowering stems may not appear until the second or third years. Flowering stems may be cut back to the basal foliage after bloom to encourage a lower, secondary bloom.

LANDSCAPE USES: Naturalizes well in woodland, wild, cottage or native plant gardens. Height and substance make this an interesting selection for grouping in border backgrounds, though the plant is somewhat coarse and is often considered to lack sufficient ornamental qualities for inclusion in borders. This plant supports and goes with beneficial Insects, Container Garden, Perennial Borders, Native Plant Garden, Pollinator Garden, Naturalizing, Rock Garden, Butterfly Garden and Restoration/Conservation;

Ecological Benefits: Visited by wasps, flies and small bees for pollination. Wasps, butterflies, birds, small bees, moths and flies are attracted to the flowers. This plant serves as a host plant for the caterpillars of Harris’ Checkerspot and Gorgone Checkerpot butterflies.

Companion/Understudy Plants: In a wildflower meadow, the plant mixes well with taller wildflowers and grasses, such as big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) and ironweed (Vernonia spp.) “There is nothing quite like the statement made by including this plant in your landscape, but if you are in need of a substitute you may consider Wild Quinine, Parthenium integrifolium though not growing quite as tall to add a bit if height to a native perennial border, for similar flower color and structure and for attracting beneficial insects, similar bloom time and tolerating similar cultural conditions. If flower color is not as important as texture and form, some of the taller Eupatoriums would also be a good substitute. For coarse texture, height and interesting foliage, any of the Silphiums may fit the bill.

Trivia:   In her book Pollinators of Native Plants, Heather Holm explains that the flowers are uniquely designed to attract wasps, acting like a floral drinking fountain:  “Nectar is secreted at the base of the style and rises up the corolla allowing access to short-tongued wasps. During hot summer days, wasps have shown a preference for more dilute nectar sources. Pale Indian plantain’s white flowers, with nectar replenished from the base of the corolla, may help keep the nectar cool and more dilute.”