Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Broadleaf Evergreen
Origin
Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States
Europe, Russia
Types
-
Symphytum officinale (common comfrey), Symphytum asperum (rough comfrey)
Number of Varieties
42
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert, Hardwood forests, Hillside, Humid climates, Rocky Ridges, wastelands
Cold Regions, stream banks
USDA Hardiness Zone
6-116-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
11-5
-
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
21,22
Habit
Rosette/Stemless
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.50 cm20.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
35.60 cm90.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Light Green, Gray Green
White, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Tan
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
Green, Dark Green
Red, Dark Green, Burgundy, Bronze
Shape
Leaf Shape
Long linear and narrow
Oval
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
-
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
-
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Root Division, Transplanting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Does not require lot of 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
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
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
Red blotch
Aphids, Stem spot
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Shallow soil, Sun
Flowers
-
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
Bold
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
-
Ants, Butterflies, pollinators
Allergy
Skin irritation
Antibacterial, Peripheral Edema
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
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
constipation, Gastrointestinal disorders
Asthma, Diarrhea, Obesity, Osteoarthritis
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Sap, Seeds, Stem
Leaves, Twigs
Other Uses
Pulp can be used to make rope place mats and other goods, Used in making beverages
Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Wildflower
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
MANFREDA virginica
Symphytum asperum
Common Name
Century plant
Maguey
American aloe
Comfrey,Black Root, Blackwort, Bruisewort
In Hindi
अमेरिकी मुसब्बर
Blackwort
In German
amerikanischen Aloe
Blackwort
In French
américaine Aloe
Blackwort
In Spanish
Americana Aloe
Blackwort
In Greek
Αμερικανός Αλόη
Blackwort
In Portuguese
americano Aloe
Blackwort
In Polish
Amerykański Aloe
Blackwort
In Latin
American Aloe
Blackwort
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
-
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Asparagales
Lamiales
Family
Agavaceae
Boraginaceae
Genus
Agave
Symphytum
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Agavoideae
Boraginoideae
Number of Species
19935
1
27800
👆🏻