Life Span
-
Perennial
Type
Tree
Broadleaf Evergreen
Origin
Southern Africa, South Africa
Europe, Russia
Types
Shrub
Symphytum officinale (common comfrey), Symphytum asperum (rough comfrey)
Number of Varieties
362
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Forest margins, Grassland, Mountains, Pastures, Rocky Ridges, Woods
Cold Regions, stream banks
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-116-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-7
-
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
21,22
Habit
Spreading
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
460.00 cm20.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
460.00 cm90.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Light Green, Ivory
White, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Yellow, Red
Orange Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Red, Green, Copper
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
Red, Dark Green, Burgundy, Bronze
Shape
Leaf Shape
Lance shaped
Oval
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Medium
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Spring
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Pollution, Drought
-
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting, Transplanting
Root Division, Transplanting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Form a Soil ring to water efficiently, Use and maintain water-efficient soaker hoses, Use Mulches to help prevent water loss during hot and windy weather, Water Deeply
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
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
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
Red blotch
Aphids, Stem spot
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Shallow soil, Sun
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Fine
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
Sometimes
Sometimes
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Ants, Butterflies, pollinators
Allergy
-
Antibacterial, Peripheral Edema
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Acne, Beautiful Skin, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Fixes Nitrogen
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Diarrhea, Dysentry
Asthma, Diarrhea, Obesity, Osteoarthritis
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Leaves, Twigs
Other Uses
Culinary use, Employed in herbal medicine, Used as a dye, Used as a spice, Used in paper industry, Wood is used for making furniture
Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
RHUS lancea
Symphytum asperum
Common Name
African Sumac
Comfrey,Black Root, Blackwort, Bruisewort
In Hindi
अफ्रीकी एक प्रकार का पौधा
Blackwort
In German
African sumac
Blackwort
In French
sumac africaine
Blackwort
In Spanish
zumaque africano
Blackwort
In Greek
Αφρικανική σουμάκι
Blackwort
In Portuguese
sumac africano
Blackwort
In Polish
afrykański sumaka
Blackwort
In Latin
African sumac
Blackwort
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
-
Magnoliophyta
Class
-
Magnoliopsida
Order
Sapindales
Lamiales
Family
Anacardiaceae
Boraginaceae
Genus
Rhus
Symphytum
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Anacardioideae
Boraginoideae
Number of Species
3635
1
27800
👆🏻