Ribgrass (Plantain) — A Mineral-Rich Perennial Forage Herb
Ribgrass — also known as plantain or narrow-leaf plantain — is one of the most valued perennial herbs in diverse grazing mixtures. With deep, drought-tolerant roots, a high mineral content, and strong protein levels, it brings genuine agronomic benefit to any sward it’s included in. It’s a natural companion to sheep’s parsley, yarrow, and burnet, and increasingly popular on lighter land where its deep rooting habit helps condition the soil and access nutrients from lower in the profile.
What It’s Used For
Ribgrass is primarily used as a component of diverse grazing mixtures, where it contributes minerals, protein, and root depth that conventional grass species cannot match. It is occasionally grown as a specialist pure stand, though this is less common.
How Long Will It Last?
A true perennial, ribgrass will persist in the sward for many years provided grazing management is sympathetic. Avoid prolonged heavy trampling or continuous set stocking, which can reduce plant numbers over time.
Key Strengths
- Mineral-rich, with deep roots that access trace elements from well below the surface
- High protein content (~20%), supporting both meat and milk production
- Drought tolerant — the deep root system helps maintain growth during dry spells
- Soil conditioning — roots improve structure and drainage on lighter soils
- Unlike chicory, it does not develop the same woody growth issues as it matures
Frost Tolerance
Generally frost tolerant and well-suited to UK conditions year-round.
Sowing Rate
- Pure stand: 4 kg/acre (10 kg/ha)
- In a mixture: 0.1–0.2 kg/acre (0.25–0.5 kg/ha)
Ribgrass has a very small seed with a high seed count per kg, so even at low inclusion rates in a mixture, a good number of plants will establish in the sward.
When to Sow
Sow from April through to early September. Its flexibility makes it easy to include in spring or late-summer reseeds alike.
Grazing Management
Ribgrass is reasonably robust but benefits from rotational grazing rather than continuous set stocking. Heavy trampling or persistent overgrazing can thin plant numbers. Managed well, it will persist and contribute to the sward for many seasons.
Identifying the Crop
Seed: Oblong with rounded, curved edges. Light to dark brown in colour, less than 2 mm in length.
Seedling: Two long, thin cotyledons — noticeably longer than the first true leaf. The first true leaf is lance-shaped, tapering to a blunt point, with a prominent mid-vein beginning to develop.
Mature plant: Generally dark green, with large lanceolate leaves bearing several prominent veins — the feature that gives the species its common name. The flower head is a brown to black oblong cylinder, with delicate white stamens that create an almost halo-like effect. The plant grows from a distinct basal rosette. Flowers from April to August.
Works Well With
Ribgrass is most commonly mixed with sheep’s parsley, yarrow, and burnet to create a diverse, mineral-lifting herb layer within a grazing sward. This combination is particularly effective at improving trace element availability for livestock.
Ready to Add Ribgrass to Your Sward?
Ribgrass features in several of our Germinal multi-species mixtures, making it easy to introduce into your reseed without sourcing it separately. Browse the mixtures below to find the right fit for your system: