Gardens should be diverse places, embracing native plants and local flavor. However there are some classic plants that appear in gardens around the world, and for good reason. Comfrey is one of them; this Eurasian herb has been embraced by a diverse array of cultures due to both its striking physical appearance and its many uses. Comfrey might be a great fit for your own garden, so let’s dig in and learn a bit more about this wonderful, beautiful plant!
Common Comfrey and Its Relatives
As our title suggests, the most common varietal of comfrey is Symphytum officinale, which is the species typifier and the one you’re most likely to encounter in gardens and nurseries. However Symphytum grandiflorum (“creeping comfrey” or “running comfrey”) is occasionally sold as just plain “comfrey”. This may not make a huge difference to a home gardener seeking the distinctive look of the plant, but it’s something to bear in mind.
Symphytum spp all originate in Eurasia, most likely in the Caucuses. However, it’s been widely cultivated since ancient times and is now found across Europe and Asia as a naturalized plant. European colonists introduced it to other parts of the world including North America and Australia, where it thrives as a garden escapee.
Depending on conditions and the varietal, comfrey can grow up to 5 feet/1.5 meters tall, although 18 inches/60cm is more common. The long tapering leaves are a beautiful shade of green, and their fuzzy texture adds some visual interest while also being just plain fun. The real showstopper is the tall inflorescence, a long stem growing upwards from the green part of the plant which produces clusters of beautiful, bell-shaped flowers. These can be blue, purple, or white depending on the varietal of comfrey, and they are a stand-out feature in any garden during their blooming season. In the Northern Hemisphere, this most often occurs in May and June and if well-watered the blooms can continue for weeks.
Growing Comfrey at Home and in the Garden
Comfrey is a popular garden plant because it’s fairly easy to grow and it tends to return on its own year after year. Its proliferation is due to its tenacious root growth and spread and its prolific reseeding—two thing to bear in mind when you are considering comfrey for your garden. It’s generally a good idea to check and see if a particular plant is prone to becoming an invasive in your part of the world, so contact your local extension office or garden club to see how comfrey does where you live.
Comfrey thrives in a variety of soil conditions, but it tends to do best in moist soil rich in organic matter. We find it helpful to top-dress about an inch/2-3cm of good compost before planting, but your soil may not need that depending on how well maintained it is. Comfrey can be propagated from either seeds or root cuttings, both of which should be planted about 2 inches/5cm deep and spaced about 2-3 feet/.6-1.0 meter apart. Comfrey isn’t a heavy feeder per se, but we do find that regular applications of compost or a nitrogen-rich fertilizer help keep this plant looking its best.
With its deep root system, comfrey is a fairly drought tolerant plant when grown in the ground or in a deep container. However, for best blooms and lush foliage, it does prefer moist soil conditions. Likewise this is a sun loving plant but in hotter climates it may benefit from some afternoon shade. It does very well in containers, however we do recommend a five gallon/20 liter container at a minium to accommodate the large root structure and the equally large leaf growth.
A Perennial Plant and a Perennial Favorite
As a reminder: in most environments comfrey is a perennial so choose your site with some care. It’s a lovely plant and when it emerges in the spring it’s a welcome reminder that warmer weather is here. This is one of those garden additions that tends to become a favorite plant—it’s certainly one of our favorites here at the Gardzen Test Garden in southeastern North Carolina. We’ve never tried it indoors, but it’s done wonderfully well in both containers and in-ground beds, so we do hope you’ll consider adding this wonderful herb to your own garden this year.
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