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Comfrey (Symphytum Officinalis)

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Only 2 available

Botanical name: Symphytum officinalis • Bloom season: Late spring to summer • Bloom color: Magenta to rich purple

A big, coarse plant with large hairy leaves and nodding clusters of magenta and purple bells in late spring. Bumblebees love it, and many types of bees feed on it. Long-tongued bees enter the bell properly, while short-tongued bees chew a hole at the base and drink the nectar without pollination.

Botanical name: Symphytum officinalis • Bloom season: Late spring to summer • Bloom color: Magenta to rich purple

A big, coarse plant with large hairy leaves and nodding clusters of magenta and purple bells in late spring. Bumblebees love it, and many types of bees feed on it. Long-tongued bees enter the bell properly, while short-tongued bees chew a hole at the base and drink the nectar without pollination.

Size:

Plant Characteristics

Botanical Name: Symphytum officinale

Common Name: Comfrey

Sun: Part Sun to Full Sun

Water: Moderate

Bloom Time: Late spring to summer

Bloom Color: Nodding mauve and cream bells

Pollinators: Bees

Deer Resistant: Yes

Mature Size: W 2'-3' x H 2'-4'

Soil: Moist, well-drained; deep taproot, very hard to remove once sited

Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial

USDA Zones: 3 to 9

Spread Habit: Clumping; deep taproot, hard to remove

Available As: Live plant

Growing Notes

Part sun to full sun in moist, well-drained ground. Space about 2 feet apart. The siting decision matters more than the growing, because comfrey has a deep, brittle taproot and every fragment left in the ground regrows, so it is close to permanent once planted. Choose the spot carefully the first time.

  • Water: Moderate

  • Sun: Part Sun to Full Sun

  • Soil: Moist, well-drained

  • Mature size: W 2'-3' x H 2'-4'

Maintenance

Cut the whole plant back to the ground two or three times a season for fresh growth; the cut leaves are traditionally used as mulch or a compost activator. Leave at least one flush to flower for the bees rather than cutting it every time. Do not attempt to relocate it.