Scientific Name:
Symphytum officinale
(incl. hybrids)
Pronunciation:
sim-FY-tum oh-fiss-ih-NAH-lee
Common Name:
comfrey
Family Name:
Boraginaceae
Plant Type:
Herbaceous perennial
Key ID Features:
Basal leaves large, pointed, hairy, ovate-lanceolate, up to 20cm long; stem leaves decurrent; flowers tubular, white to pink to purple, Apr-May; fruit a schizocarp splitting into 4 dark brown to black mericarps or "nutlets" 4-6mm long.
Habit:
Spreading, Upright
Form:
Oval - vertical
Texture:
Medium - coarse
Mature Height:
0.7 - 1.3m
Mature Spread:
0.6 - 1.0m
Origin:
Central / west Asia, Europe, Garden origin
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 4: (-34 to -29 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun, Part sun/part shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Well-drained
Water Use:
Moderate
Landscape Uses:
Medicinal plant, Spring interest, Woodland margin
Additional Info:
Google. Hybrids shown include Russian comfrey.
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Alternate, Basal
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible
Surfaces:
Pubescent
Shapes:
Lanceolate, Ovate
Bases:
Decurrent
Margins:
Inflorescence Type:
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
5
Corolla Shape:
Urceolate
Colour (petals):
Showy, White, Blue, Purple, Pink
Flower Time at Peak:
Apr, May
Fruit Type:
Schizocarp
Fruit Colour:
Brown, Black
Fruiting Time:
Aug, Sep
Additional Info:
Not showy
Bark Morphology:
Smooth
Bark or Stem Colour:
Green
Organ Modifications:
Storage tap root
Propagation:
Seed, Cuttings
Pest Susceptibility:
Slugs or snails (Pest resistant, Disease resistant, Deer resistant, Drought tolerant)
