Common comfrey
Scientific name: Symphytum officinale
Family: Boraginaceae
Other common names;
Flowering time: May to July
Height: to 1m
Growing conditions: damp ground, found near the river
Nectar source for: bumblebees
Food source for:
Description
Common comfrey is a hairy plant of damp ground and is found beside rivers. It often grows in clumps and displays clusters of bell-shaped, pinky-purple flowers. It has become an important plant for organic gardeners as its roots reach deep into the soil making it rich in minerals, while its leaves can be used for slug control, as a fertiliser and as a composting aid.
How to identify: The comfreys are a small group, but can be difficult to tell apart from each other as hybrids are common. Common comfrey has large, oval, hairy leaves, and clusters of drooping, tubular flowers that are pinky-purple in colour.
How to propagate: The comfrey bed should be well prepared by weeding thoroughly, and dressing with manure if available. Offsets should be planted 2–3 feet apart with the growing points just below the surface, whilst root segments should be buried about 2 inches deep. Keep the bed well watered until the young plants are established. Comfrey should not be harvested in its first season as it needs to become established. Any flowering stems should be removed as these will weaken the plant in its first year. Comfrey should also be regularly watered until well established.
Family: Boraginaceae
Other common names;
Flowering time: May to July
Height: to 1m
Growing conditions: damp ground, found near the river
Nectar source for: bumblebees
Food source for:
Description
Common comfrey is a hairy plant of damp ground and is found beside rivers. It often grows in clumps and displays clusters of bell-shaped, pinky-purple flowers. It has become an important plant for organic gardeners as its roots reach deep into the soil making it rich in minerals, while its leaves can be used for slug control, as a fertiliser and as a composting aid.
How to identify: The comfreys are a small group, but can be difficult to tell apart from each other as hybrids are common. Common comfrey has large, oval, hairy leaves, and clusters of drooping, tubular flowers that are pinky-purple in colour.
How to propagate: The comfrey bed should be well prepared by weeding thoroughly, and dressing with manure if available. Offsets should be planted 2–3 feet apart with the growing points just below the surface, whilst root segments should be buried about 2 inches deep. Keep the bed well watered until the young plants are established. Comfrey should not be harvested in its first season as it needs to become established. Any flowering stems should be removed as these will weaken the plant in its first year. Comfrey should also be regularly watered until well established.