Plantain?

Shop deals on ebay
Advertise with us
shop deals on amazon
Rabbit Talk Forum

Help Support Rabbit Talk Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
WVForestGirl

WVForestGirl

Well-known member
Rabbit Talk Supporter
Joined
Sep 8, 2015
Messages
62
Reaction score
1
Location
WV
I've seen a lot of people mention that they give their rabbits plantain leaves along with kale, grass, etc. and I always thought that was a Florida thing or something. Yesterday I was in the garden section at the hardware store and the lightbulb went on. Do y'all mean hostas, like the decorative garden kind? That would be so great! Right now the deer just prune all mine.
 
The "Florida thing" would be the banana-like fruit. I know nothing about whether it can be fed to rabbits, but it is not what we are talking about when we say plantain with regard to feeding rabbits. This is why :pullhair: I keep harping on the need to use scientific (Latin) names for plant identification.

You mention hostas and while they do bear some slight resemblance to the plantain we are talking about, the are not the same plant or even theysame family of plants. The good news is that they are safe for rabbits -- and chickens! Frequently when deer love a plant it is suitable for rabbits too.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hosta

When we speak of plantain for feeding rabbits, the plants we mean are the numerous Plantago species. They are common lawn weeds and are excellent, safe rabbit food and also a remedy for diarrhea. Here are links to the most common ones:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantago_major
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantago_ovata
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantago_lanceolata
 
Thank you so much! :D I have so many of those on my weed hill, I'll be putting them to good use from now on! I am also much more comfortable with the scientific names, that's what got me with the hostas at lowe's.
 
I love to snack on the tender young leaves. Anyone else like the flavor?
 
I like shooting them at DH :lol: (the flower heads)

Plantain is one that, now that I want it, is not growing much at all in my yard! :evil: The hay field is totally overrun with it though! :roll: It is fantastic for bites and stings as well. I got nailed by some fire ants one day and it hurt so bad I was having a hard time even walking (not sure what the deal was, number of bites, location, if they were more aggressive than usual)... the plaintain made the pain much more tolerable! (chew it up a little and put the mixture on).
 

Latest posts

Back
Top