Common Comfrey

Symphytum officinale

• Type: Perennial herb

• USDA Growing Zones: 4-8

• Sun Exposure: Full sun-part shade

• Size: 1-3' tall and wide

• Care: Deer resistant, easy to grow; can spread aggressively (plant somewhere you want to fill quickly/somewhere you want to enrich the soil)

  
  
  
  

  Find this reliable plant at Painters Herb Fest!

  8" pots are $14.00 each.

Also known as knitbone, comfrey is a flowering plant in the borage family that has been cultivated since the 12th century for dying and medicinal properties. It is a fast growing and reliable flower. The purple drooping bell-shaped flower clusters appear from spring to summer and are absolutely adored by bees; particularly bumblebees. 

However our real appreciation for comfrey isn’t for the flowers, but the leaves.

This herb breaks down quickly and is an excellent mulch and fertilizer. In our support of garden and landscape restoration here in WNC, we’ve talked at length about soil restoration. We all know that compost is a valuable addition to any soil rebuilding and due to comfrey’s high nutrient content: especially nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (all essential for plant growth), it is an excellent addition to your compost pile or as liquid fertilizer for crops. And besides harvesting for your compost, comfrey can be chopped and spread on the soil around plants as a mulch to add nutrients topically. Or use it as a living mulch by growing in areas where it can be cut back leaving the leaves to be used as soil builder. (Be mindful of its aggressive nature in considering your space).

Two things to note:  wearing gloves is recommended when cutting comfrey as the long, hairy leaves and prickles on the stems can irritate delicate hands or cause itching. Additionally, comfrey contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which can be toxic to the liver if consumed in large amounts. Be safe and keep your pet friends safe.