Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Sedge or Rush
Broadleaf Evergreen
Origin
World/Pandemic, North America, Europe, Russia/Siberia, Africa, Asia
Europe, Russia
Types
austrocalifornicus , effusus , laxus , pacificus , solutus
Symphytum officinale (common comfrey), Symphytum asperum (rough comfrey)
Habitat
All sorts of environments, Banks, ditches, marshes, Shores of rivers or lakes
Cold Regions, stream banks
USDA Hardiness Zone
6-9
6-11
Sunset Zone
H1, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
21,22
Habit
Clump-Forming
Upright/Erect
Flower Color
Brown
White, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Red, Green, Copper
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Tan, Sandy Brown
Red, Dark Green, Burgundy, Bronze
Leaf Shape
Long hair-like leaves
Oval
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Poorly Drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Divison, reseeds
Root Division, Transplanting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Requirements
Does not require regular watering
Allow to dry out slightly between watering, Water daily during growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Poorly Drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Prune to control growth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Cut or pinch the stems, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
14-14-14 Fertilizer, All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, can go long without fertilizers
Pests and Diseases
-
Aphids, Stem spot
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Shallow soil, Sun
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Fine
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Invasive
Sometimes
Sometimes
Attracts
Bumblebees, Flying insects
Ants, Butterflies, pollinators
Allergy
-
Antibacterial, Peripheral Edema
Aesthetic Uses
Informal Hedge, Woodland margins
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Acne, Beautiful Skin, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Fixes Nitrogen
Medicinal Uses
-
Asthma, Diarrhea, Obesity, Osteoarthritis
Part of Plant Used
-
Leaves, Twigs
Other Uses
woven into the covering of tatami mats
Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Bog Garden, Container, Mixed Border, Water Gardens
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
JUNCUS effusus
Symphytum asperum
Common Name
Soft Rush
Comfrey,Black Root, Blackwort, Bruisewort
In Hindi
Soft Rush
Blackwort
In German
Soft Rush
Blackwort
In French
Soft Rush
Blackwort
In Spanish
Soft Rush
Blackwort
In Greek
Soft Rush
Blackwort
In Portuguese
Soft Rush
Blackwort
In Polish
Soft Rush
Blackwort
In Latin
Soft Rush
Blackwort
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Family
Juncaceae
Boraginaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Subfamily
-
Boraginoideae