Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Broadleaf Evergreen
Cactus or Succulent
Origin
Europe, Russia
North America, Southwestern United States, Mexico
Types
Symphytum officinale (common comfrey), Symphytum asperum (rough comfrey)
Colville's Barrel Cactus, Long-spined Barrel Cactus, Barrel Cactus
Number of Varieties
229
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Cold Regions, stream banks
limestone outcrops, Rocky areas, Semi desert
USDA Hardiness Zone
6-1112-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
12-10
Sunset Zone
21,22
12, 13, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
20.00 cm40.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
90.00 cm13.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Light Pink
Yellow, Magenta
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Orange Red
Pink, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Red, Green, Copper
-
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Blue Green
-
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Blue Green
-
Leaf Color in Winter
Red, Dark Green, Burgundy, Bronze
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
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
Growth Rate
Medium
Slow
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Root Division, Transplanting
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Allow to dry out slightly between watering, Water daily during growing season
Needs good drainage, Needs very little water, Water carefully
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, Alkaline
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
Pruning
Cut or pinch the stems, Remove dead leaves
-
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
✔
✘
✔
✘
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
Medium
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
-
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Ants, Butterflies, pollinators
-
Allergy
Antibacterial, Peripheral Edema
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
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
Flowers
Other Uses
Used for its medicinal properties
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
ECHINOCACTUS horizonthalonius
Common Name
Comfrey,Black Root, Blackwort, Bruisewort
Devilshead, Turk's head cactus, Blue barrel cactus, Eagle's claw, Horse maimer, Horse crippler, Visnaga meloncillo
In Hindi
Blackwort
Blue barrel cactus
In German
Blackwort
Blau Faßkaktus
In French
Blackwort
Bleu barrel cactus
In Spanish
Blackwort
biznaga Azul
In Greek
Blackwort
Μπλε βαρέλι κάκτος
In Portuguese
Blackwort
cacto de tambor azul
In Polish
Blackwort
Niebieski baryłkę kaktus
In Latin
Blackwort
Blue Cactus
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Lamiales
Caryophyllales
Family
Boraginaceae
Cactaceae
Genus
Symphytum
Echinocactus
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
-
Cacteae
Subfamily
Boraginoideae
Cactaceae
Number of Species
3529
1
27800
👆🏻