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About Comfrey and Creeping Phlox


What is

Life Span
Perennial  
Perennial  

Type
Perennial  
Broadleaf Evergreen  

Origin
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States  
Europe, Russia  

Types
-  
Symphytum officinale (common comfrey), Symphytum asperum (rough comfrey)  

Number of Varieties
25  
99+
2  
99+

Habitat
Rocky areas, Slopes  
Cold Regions, stream banks  

USDA Hardiness Zone
4-8  
6-11  

AHS Heat Zone
8-1  
-  

Sunset Zone
A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17  
21,22  

Habit
Mat-forming  
Upright/Erect  

Information

Plant Size
  
  

Minimum Height
10.20 cm  
99+
20.00 cm  
99+

Minimum Width
30.50 cm  
99+
90.00 cm  
99+

Plant Color
  
  

Flower Color
White, Blue, Purple, Pink  
White, Light Pink  

Flower Color Modifier
-  
Bicolor  

Fruit Color
-  
Orange Red  

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
Light Green  
Red, Dark Green, Burgundy, Bronze  

Shape
  
  

Leaf Shape
Needle like  
Oval  

Thorns
No  
No  

Season

Plant Season
Spring  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter  

Growing Conditions
  
  

Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade  

Growth Rate
Medium  
Medium  

Type of Soil
Loam  
Loam, Sand  

The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral  
Acidic, Neutral  

Soil Drainage
Well drained  
Well drained  

Bloom Time
Spring  
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer  

Repeat Bloomer
No  
No  

Tolerances
Drought  
-  

Care

Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot  
Container, Ground  

How to Plant?
Divison, Stem Cutting  
Root Division, Transplanting  

Plant Maintenance
Low  
Low  

Watering Plants
  
  

Watering Requirements
Needs more water during establishment, Requires 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
  
  

Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral  
Acidic, Neutral  

Soil Type
Loam  
Loam, Sand  

Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained  
Well drained  

Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial shade  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade  

Pruning
Prune after flowering, Prune in summer  
Cut or pinch the stems, Remove dead leaves  

Fertilizers
General garden fertilizer  
14-14-14 Fertilizer, All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, can go long without fertilizers  

Pests and Diseases
Caterpillars, Crown rot, Gray mold, Leaf spot, Leafminers, Nematodes, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Rust, Southern blight, Yellow Leaves  
Aphids, Stem spot  

Plant Tolerance
Drought  
Shallow soil, Sun  

Facts

Flowers
Showy  
Showy  

Flower Petal Number
Single  
Single  

Fruits
  
  

Showy Fruit
No  
Yes  

Edible Fruit
No  
No  

Fragrance
  
  

Fragrant Flower
Yes  
Yes  

Fragrant Fruit
No  
No  

Fragrant Leaf
No  
No  

Fragrant Bark/Stem
No  
No  

Showy Foliage
No  
Yes  

Showy Bark
No  
No  

Foliage Texture
Medium  
Medium  

Foliage Sheen
Matte  
Glossy  

Evergreen
No  
No  

Invasive
No  
Sometimes  

Self-Sowing
Yes  
No  

Attracts
Hummingbirds, Butterflies  
Ants, Butterflies, pollinators  

Allergy
-  
Antibacterial, Peripheral Edema  

Benefits

Uses
  
  

Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bouquets, Showy Purposes  
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes  

Beauty Benefits
-  
Acne, Beautiful Skin, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes  

Edible Uses
No  
No  

Environmental Uses
Air purification  
Air purification, Fixes Nitrogen  

Plant Benefits
  
  

Medicinal Uses
-  
Asthma, Diarrhea, Obesity, Osteoarthritis  

Part of Plant Used
Flowers  
Leaves, Twigs  

Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant  
Used for its medicinal properties  

Used As Indoor Plant
No  
No  

Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes  
Yes  

Garden Design
Cutflower, Edging, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Wildflower  
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Mixed Border, Tropical  

Scientific Name

Botanical Name
Phlox subulata  
Symphytum asperum  

Common Name
Creeping Phlox  
Comfrey,Black Root, Blackwort, Bruisewort  

In Hindi
जीव एक प्रकार का पौधा  
Blackwort  

In German
kriechend Phlox  
Blackwort  

In French
phlox rampant  
Blackwort  

In Spanish
rastrero phlox  
Blackwort  

In Greek
υφέρπουσα phlox  
Blackwort  

In Portuguese
rastejar phlox  
Blackwort  

In Polish
pełzanie floks  
Blackwort  

In Latin
Phlox serpentium  
Blackwort  

Classification

Kingdom
Plantae  
Plantae  

Phylum
Magnoliophyta  
Magnoliophyta  

Class
Magnoliopsida  
Magnoliopsida  

Order
Solanales  
Lamiales  

Family
Polemoniaceae  
Boraginaceae  

Genus
Phlox  
Symphytum  

Clade
-  
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids  

Tribe
-  
-  

Subfamily
-  
Boraginoideae  

Number of Species
67  
35  

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