Comfrey (symphytum officinale)

We grow lots of comfrey on our farm, and we plan on growing lots more. Comfrey is a tremendously useful plant. With its powerful, deep root system comfrey pulls nutrients and minerals from deep in the earth and brings them up into it's leaves. The leaves can be laid around plants and trees as a mulch, or buried in the ground. As they break down, comfrey leaves turn into black oil, that is high in nitrogen and many other nutrients. It is the king of dynamic accumulators. The leaves can be cut 4-5 times a year.

Comfrey can flower twice a year. Bell shaped purple blossoms attract a wide variety of pollinators and beneficial insects.

Comfrey is extremely easy to grow and will thrive in just about any soil. Full sun to full shade. 2-3 feet tall.

Propagation

Comfrey is very easily grown from root pieces or crown divisions. Our root pieces come in 1-2" sections. They typically have over a 90% survival rate. The crowns have an even higher survival rate and establish a little quicker. Expect plants to be fully mature after one season.

Does Comfrey Spread?

Many people worry that comfrey will become invasive and spread. Our comfrey does not produce viable seed and stays in place. It will only spread if disturbed because any piece of comfrey root will make a new plant. So any digging or rototilling near comfrey will result in new plants.

Comfrey is extremely hard to get rid of. Plant it where you want it.

Our Variety: We started our comfrey patches from a friends garden years ago. It is a large robust variety with purple flowers. Our comfrey does not set viable seed. It seems to be identical to bocking 14 when compared next to it and probably is B14.

Comfrey root pieces may include both root fragments and crowns