Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Broadleaf Evergreen
Cactus or Succulent
Origin
Europe, Russia
North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Central America, South America
Types
Symphytum officinale (common comfrey), Symphytum asperum (rough comfrey)
Schlumbergera
Number of Varieties
215
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Cold Regions, stream banks
Coastal Mountains, Humid climates
USDA Hardiness Zone
6-11-9999
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
12-1
Sunset Zone
21,22
7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
20.00 cm45.70 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
90.00 cm71.10 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Light Pink
Purple
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Orange Red
Pink
Leaf Color in Spring
Red, Green, Copper
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Blue Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Blue Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Red, Dark Green, Burgundy, Bronze
Green, Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oval
Toothed
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Medium
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
-
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
-
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Root Division, Transplanting
Stem Planting, Transplanting
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Allow to dry out slightly between watering, Water daily during growing season
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Cut or pinch the stems, Remove dead leaves
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Requires little pruning
Fertilizers
14-14-14 Fertilizer, All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, can go long without fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Stem spot
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Shallow soil, Sun
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
-
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Medium
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Ants, Butterflies, pollinators
-
Allergy
Antibacterial, Peripheral Edema
Eye irritation, sneezing
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Acne, Beautiful Skin, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Fixes Nitrogen
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Asthma, Diarrhea, Obesity, Osteoarthritis
-
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Twigs
Leaves
Other Uses
Used for its medicinal properties
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as Christmas Tree, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Mixed Border, Tropical
Container, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall
Botanical Name
Symphytum asperum
SCHLUMBERGERA x buckleyi
Common Name
Comfrey,Black Root, Blackwort, Bruisewort
Thanksgiving Cactus, Crab Cactus
In Hindi
Blackwort
क्रिसमस कैक्टस
In German
Blackwort
Weihnachtskaktus
In French
Blackwort
Cactus de Noël
In Spanish
Blackwort
Cactus de Navidad
In Greek
Blackwort
Χριστούγεννα Cactus
In Portuguese
Blackwort
Cacto de Natal
In Polish
Blackwort
Christmas Cactus
In Latin
Blackwort
Nativitatis Cactus
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Lamiales
Caryophyllales
Family
Boraginaceae
Cactaceae
Genus
Symphytum
Schlumbergera
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Boraginoideae
Cactoideae
Number of Species
356
1
27800
👆🏻