Scientific Name: Symphytum officinale (incl. hybrids)
Common Name: comfrey
Family Name: Boraginaceae
Origin: Central / west Asia, Europe, Garden origin
Hardiness Zone: Zone 4: (-34 to -29 °C)
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Mature Size: 0.7 - 1.3m x 0.6 - 1.0m (height x width)
Habit: Spreading, Upright
Form: Oval - vertical
Texture: Medium
Landscape Uses: Medicinal plant, Spring interest, Woodland margin
Exposure: Full sun, Part sun/part shade
Soil or Media: Well-drained
Leaves: Simple, Alternate, Basal, Soft flexible, Pubescent, Lanceolate, Ovate
Flowers: White, Blue, Purple, Pink, Apr-May
Fruit: Schizocarp, Brown, Black, Aug-Sep
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.