Botanical NameSymphytum officinalePlant TypeHerbaceous perennialMature Size12 to 36 inches tall, 9 to 30 inches wideSun ExposureFull sun to part sunSoil TypeLoamy, well-drained

How fast does comfrey spread?

Strong, mature plants on a 3 foot grid will have the larger outside leaves touching the adjacent plants after 4 to 5 weeks growth. Comfrey can also be grown indoors, in pots (1 to 5 gallon size) for a continuous harvest of fresh, small leaves.

Where should I plant comfrey in my garden?

Plant comfrey in any low point in the garden that gets run-off from your chooks, compost or perhaps a pond. There, it will happily soak up all of the nutrients that otherwise would be washed away, then you can use the plant to add those goodies back into your soil.

How much does comfrey spread?

Plant Type:Perennial herbFlower / Foliage Color:Height:3-4 feetUses:Spread:3-4 feetFamily:Water Needs:ModerateGenus:Pests & Diseases:Slugs, snails; Comfrey rust, powdery mildewSpecies:

Is comfrey plant invasive?

Because it is a very deep root, it is extremely difficult to eradicate once established. … Between the self-seeding and root regrowth, comfrey can become invasive. There is a sterile species of comfrey, Symphytum x uplandicum ‘Bocking 14’, which eliminates the self-seeding problem in the garden.

Should comfrey be cut back?

Comfrey is a hardy plant and grows so vigorously that it can overtake an area in a single growing season. Cutting your plant back will only encourage additional stem and leaf growth. Go ahead and cut away the flowering stalk. As you’re harvesting, allow some leaves to remain near the soil level to help feed the roots.

Where is the best place to grow comfrey?

Comfrey can grow in full sun to partial shade, meaning it needs at least three hours of direct sunlight on most days. In the warmer parts of its growing zones, plant it where it will get shade from the strong afternoon sun.

How wide does comfrey grow?

Symphytum officinale, commonly called comfrey, is a large, coarse, tuberous-rooted, clumping perennial (to 3′ tall and 2.5′ wide) that is primarily grown today as an ornamental for its attractive foliage and spring flowers. Large, pointed, hairy, ovate-lanceolate, dark green basal leaves grow to 8” long.

How do you stop comfrey from spreading?

Cut sheets large enough to cover the comfrey patch from a roll of 1-millimeter black plastic mulch, using scissors. If you have a large comfrey patch, cut an extra sheet or two so you can overlap them and prevent the comfrey from growing through. Plastic mulch usually comes in 3-, 4- and 5-foot wide rolls.

Should I plant comfrey in my garden?

Ecological Benefits of Growing Comfrey Provides habitat for beneficial insects under huge leaves, which helps to keep the garden pest-free. Fertilizes with nutrient-rich mulch. Use the fast-growing leaves as a fertilizing green mulch or green manure.

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How can you tell the difference between Comfrey and borage?

Identifying Comfrey and Borage It’s easy to tell comfrey and borage apart when they bloom. Borage flowers are always blue while comfrey flowers bloom in white, pink and purple. The flowers have different shapes, as well, with comfrey flowers shaped like bells and borage flowers like stars.

Is comfrey good for bees?

Comfrey. Comfrey’s not just great for honeybees, but it also attracts pollinators like bumblebees. These vigorous plants can also be used to make comfrey feed and comfrey ointment.

Is comfrey really toxic?

Comfrey has toxic substances that can cause severe liver damage and even death. You should never take comfrey by mouth. The toxic substances in comfrey can be absorbed by the skin. Even creams and ointments should be used for only a short time, and only under a doctor’s supervision.

Does comfrey have hairy leaves?

Leaves – Large, hairy, broad leaves. Feels rough to the touch because of the stiff hairs. Flowers – Small bell-shaped flowers of various colours, typically cream or purplish, which may be striped. Common Comfrey flowers are usually white/cream.

Is comfrey good for compost?

Comfrey out-performs manure, compost and many liquid feeds for concentration of nutrients. It produces these from a deep root system extending right into the subsoil that most edible plants cannot access. It also has an ideal Carbon:Nitrogen ratio which means that it does not hamper absorption of nitrogen by plants.

What does comfrey do in the garden?

Use as a mulch. Chop up comfrey leaves with grass cuttings, and place a 5cm layer on the surface of the soil around all plants. This will slowly rot down to provide nutrients, and act as a mulch to keep in moisture and help control weeds. Add fresh cut leaves to your leaf mould heap.

Do slugs eat comfrey?

Sacrificial Comfrey, Sharp Stuff, and Slug Races ‘Slugs love comfrey! ‘ says the book, before advising the reader to plant comfrey in slug hotspots. After a couple of days, pick the greedy guts off the comfrey and dispose of as you see fit.

What is the difference between common comfrey and Russian comfrey?

Flowers of common comfrey are usually creamy yellow, but white, red, or purple types have been found in Europe. Prickly comfrey has pink and blue flowers while Russian comfrey has blue, purple, or red-purple flowers.

Is Comfrey harmful to dogs?

The Merck Veterinary Manual lists comfrey as an especially risky herb because of its pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which have been linked to liver damage. The alkaloids are actually produced by the herb to fend off bugs, but the insecticide can be harmful to a dog.

Will deer eat comfrey?

Comfrey is a great plant to have outside of your orchard (or garden)fencing. Deer enjoy this plant almost as much as hosta, but they don’t eat it to the ground, more as a browse.

What can I do with comfrey stems?

  1. Vigorous comfrey plants regrow after greens are harvested for compost or mulch.
  2. Garlic is tucked in with a double mulch of chopped comfrey and rotted hay.
  3. A comfrey root poultice can speed healing of sprains and bruises.
  4. Use dried leaves to make comfrey tea for houseplants.

When should comfrey be harvested?

Roots to be used to make medicinal ointments or skin creams can be harvested at any time, but preferably in early winter. Gather greens for composting in early summer and again in autumn.

Can you move comfrey?

Insert a spade across the middle of the plant and cut straight down, splitting the plant in two. Dig up half and fill the hole left with compost or a compost and soil mix. The half of the plant left in the ground will recover and be as productive as the other plants in the comfrey bed in a year’s time.

How do I get rid of comfrey naturally?

You can get rid of comfrey in your garden by using organic acids like acetic acid and citric acid. You can uproot or dig the plant out of the ground and use it in compost, mulch, or liquid fertilizer. Or you can use a chemical like Glyphosate to get rid of the comfrey plant.

What month does comfrey bloom?

Comfrey blooms once every year between late spring and early summer, and unlike a shrub, can be expected to die back in the winter. It is certified to grow as a perennial in the United States in USDA Hardiness Zones 4-9.

Is Comfrey an evergreen?

Product NameQtySymphytum grandiflorum – 1 plant1

Does comfrey look like foxglove?

Comfrey could be mistaken for foxglove when not in flower, as the leaves are similar. However, comfrey leaves are untoothed, meaning they have smooth edges, and foxglove leaves are toothed. … However, great mullein leaves are untoothed and are hairier than those of foxglove.

Is comfrey part of the borage family?

The Borage family of over 100 genera and 2000 species has a worldwide distribution. It includes Borage, Comfrey, Heliotrope, Myosotis (Forget-me-not), Echium (Vipers Bugloss), Anchusa (Alkanet), Brunnera (Siberian bugloss) and Pulmonaria (Lungwort), Flowers are generally blue but pink in bud.

Is comfrey in the borage family?

Symphytum is a genus of flowering plants in the borage family, Boraginaceae. There are up to 35 species, known by the common name comfrey (pronounced /ˈkʌmfri/).

Do bees like comfrey flowers?

Comfrey – The flowers of the Comfrey plant are bell shaped and purple in color. The nectar is savored by the pollinators and beneficial insects in the garden. Not only is Comfrey a good food for the bees, it also nourishes the soil when used as a mulch.

Do bees like comfrey plant?

Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) It has a long flowering period that’s loved by bumblebees, especially species with long tongues. Flowers: May to August. Comfrey is a fantastic garden plant – bees love it and you can used it to make a fertiliser!