Friend or foe please?

Hello my lovely gardening gurus,

I am now starting to tackle the second border and seem to have a lot of these. Some are quite large, like the one in the photo, but I also have gazillions (well seems like it, but a lot anyway!) in the lawn.

I haven't done anything with them, as until a few days ago there were small flowers on the prongs that are sticking out and the hoverflies seemed to be on them, so wanted to wait until they were dead (the flowers, not the hoverflies ).

As they seem to self-seed everywhere, are they a weed or a proper plant please?

Many thanks in advance.

 

I think it Plantain, a weed.

 

Thank you Pete. I have googled that, it does look slightly different (probably difficult to see from my photography!), but will keep that in mind, thanks again

 

Its the narrow leaved version I think.

 

Are! Thank you Pete, apparently (according to Google) you can eat the leave, but I think I give that a miss!

 

There are at least five plantains.
Buck's Horn Plantain-Platago corono.
Great Plantain-Rat's Tail Plantain-Platago major.
Hoary Plantain-Platago media.
Sea Plantain-Platago maritima.
Water Plantain-Alisma plantago aquation.

Buck's Horn and Rat's Tail spread like blazes.

 

Many thanks Mike. I have googled the two you mentioned and it looks like the Buck's Horn the most. I think I will keep some then, as wildlife seem to like them, thank you

 

Pollinating insects do like plantains. If you are like me and go for the wildflower look in lawns, dig it up and plant in your lawn where it will be happy and the hoverflies will thank you.

 

Thanks Redwing I am cultivating a wildflower area of the lawn, so will definitely do something with them. I have to get used to weeds being important in the garden as well as plants, and not just use that as an excuse not to weed