Species comfrey
purple-blue flowers with lime leaves and stems

comfrey

Symphytum uplandicum

Comfrey (Symphytum uplandicum) is an herbaceous perennial plant native to Europe and Asia and is a member of the Boraginaceae family. It has erect, dark-green, hairy stems, with large, kidney-shaped, wavy-edged, bristly-haired leaves. The bell-shaped, deep-purple flowers appear in racemes in late spring to early summer and attract bees and other pollinators. Comfrey has a variety of medicinal uses, including healing wounds, rashes, bruises, sprains, and joint pain. It is a great addition to any garden as an ornamental plant, but is best kept away from other plants as its vigorous roots can choke out others.

Cycle:

Herbaceous Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Division,Root Cutting,Seed Propagation,Layering Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

4 - 8

Flowers:

Rose aging to purple Flowers

Sun:

Full sun,part shade

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Moderate

Poisonous To Humans:

Yes

Poisonous To Pets:

Yes

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

watering

Comfrey (Symphytum uplandicum) prefers moist soil so it should be watered frequently. During the growing season, the plant should be watered deeply once a week or twice a week if it receives limited rainfall. When the soil is dry and you can comfortably stick your finger 1 inch deep into the soil to check, then it is time to water. During the winter months, water the plant only when the soil is dry.

sunlight

Comfrey (Symphytum uplandicum) prefers full sun exposure for at least 6 hours per day to be most productive and healthy. This means that the plant should be placed in an area that gets direct sunlight for most of the day. If that is not available, filtered light or partial shade can also work. Ideally, comfrey should be planted in an area where it will get plenty of sun in the morning and some protection from mid-day and afternoon sun. When the temperatures are hot, partial shade can be provided by nearby trees or other tall plants.

pruning

Comfrey (Symphytum uplandicum) should be pruned once a year, ideally in the late winter or early spring. Pruning should be done to maintain the desired size or shape of the plant. To encourage branching and bushy growth, cut back the main stems 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) from their tips. Cut off any dead or damaged branches and remove weak or thin stems. Pruning also helps to encourage the production of flowers and can be done after flowering is complete.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Comfrey typically starts flowering in April or May.

Hardiness Map