Comfrey - Symphytum x uplandicum 'Bocking 14' - €8 per plant 
For Root Cuttings Click Here 

Considered a super plant by many we find that Comfrey lives up to its name. The plant provides copious amounts of biomass, is high in potassium and makes excellent mulch for the garden. The healing properties of this herb are well renowned, making it an essential first aid plant. The beautiful flowers are much loved by bees and the plant provides excellent ground cover. We have the plant stationed underneath fruit trees where the deep tap root accumalates minerals from the sub soil and deposits them to the shallow tree roots via simple 'chop and drop' mulching. We have division and root cuttings from our plants on offer  that can be planted out in the autumn. Comfrey can be invasive however our plants are hybrids developed in the UK to not spread by seed.  To order this plant please contact us [email protected].  

Context

  • native region: Not known in a truly wild situation
  • native habitat: A hybrid of garden origin, S. asperum x S. officinale
  • family: Boraginaceae

Predators

  • Subject to attacks by the rust fungus

Needs, tolerances 

  • Light: Semi-shade or no shade 
  • soil pH:  acid-neutral -basic alkaline 
  • USDA Hardiness Zone: 4a - 9b
  • Prefers moist soil
  • Best grown in an open sunny site in a deep rich soil if it is being grown for compost material

Polyculture Potential  

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Known hazards 

  • This plant contains small quantities of a toxic alkaloid which can have a cumulative effect upon the liver. Largest concentrations are found in the roots, leaves contain higher quantities of the alkaloid as they grow older and young leaves contain almost none. Most people would have to consume very large quantities of the plant in order to do any harm, though anyone with liver problems should obviously be more cautious. In general, the health-promoting properties of the plant probably far outweigh any possible disbenefits, especially if only the younger leaves are used.

Overview

  • Herbaceous perennial growing to 1.2 m (4ft) by 0.6 m (2ft in) at a fast rate
  • It is in flower from May to June. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees.
  • Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in heavy clay soil. 
  • Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils.
  • It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. 
  • It prefers moist soil.

Characteristics

  • form: medium sized herb 
  • layer : Herb/Ground Layer
  • habit: clumping ,vigorous growth 
  • height x width (m): 1.2 x 0.6
  • years to bearing yield: 0 years  
  • productive life span:  indefinite

Products 

  • Leaf: Young leaves - cooked or raw and can be chopped up finely and added to salads. Young shoots can be used as an asparagus substitute. The blanched stalks are used in this way.
  • Older leaves can be dried and used as a tea.
  • Roots: The peeled roots are cut up and added to soups. Roots are also  used with dandelion and chicory roots for making coffee.
  • Medicinal: Comfrey is a commonly used herbal medicine with a long and proven history in the treatment of various complaints. The root and the leaves are used, the root being more active, and they can be taken internally or used externally as a poultice
  • Plants can be grown as a ground cover when planted about 1.2 metres apart each way
  • Biomass makes very valuable addition to the compost heap and as mulch
  • A liquid feed can be obtained by soaking the leaves in a small amount of water for a week, excellent for potassium demanding crops such as tomatoes

Functions, behaviours

  • easy to propagate from root cuttings
  • The flowers are very attractive to bees amongst other pollinaters
  • The root system is very deep, fragments of root left in the soil can produce new plants 
  • The plant grows very quickly, producing a lot of bulk. It is tolerant of being cut several times a year.

Polyculture Partners - The Biomass Belt 

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If you would like more information about this polyculture click here  for our blog article. 


If you would like this plant  please send an email to [email protected] with your order. 
Balkan Ecology Project