Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Broadleaf Evergreen
Cactus or Succulent
Origin
Europe, Russia
Southern Africa
Types
Symphytum officinale (common comfrey), Symphytum asperum (rough comfrey)
Hoodia albispina, Hoodia flava, Hoodia bainii
Number of Varieties
225
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Cold Regions, stream banks
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
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
20.00 cm30.50 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
90.00 cm30.50 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Light Pink
Red, Pink, Tan
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Orange Red
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Red, Green, Copper
Blue Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Blue Green
-
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Blue Green
Blue Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Red, Dark Green, Burgundy, Bronze
Blue Green, Gray Green
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
Very 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
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Root Division, Transplanting
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Allow to dry out slightly between watering, Water daily during growing season
Water when top layer of soil becomes dry
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Average Water
In Winter
Average Water
Once a week
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
No pruning needed in the early stages
Fertilizers
14-14-14 Fertilizer, All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, can go long without fertilizers
No fertilizers needed
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Stem spot
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Shallow soil, Sun
Drought, Full Sun, Shade areas
Flowers
Showy
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
Medium
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Ants, Butterflies, pollinators
Flies, Insects
Allergy
Antibacterial, Peripheral Edema
Dry Mouth
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
Acne, Beautiful Skin, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes
Weightloss
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Fixes Nitrogen
Food for insects
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Asthma, Diarrhea, Obesity, Osteoarthritis
Weight loss
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Twigs
Stem
Other Uses
Used for its medicinal properties
Can be made into a herbal tea, Used for its medicinal properties
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
Hoodia gordonii
Common Name
Comfrey,Black Root, Blackwort, Bruisewort
ǁhoba, Ghaap
In Hindi
Blackwort
Hoodia
In German
Blackwort
Hoodia
In French
Blackwort
Hoodia
In Spanish
Blackwort
Hoodia
In Greek
Blackwort
Hoodia
In Portuguese
Blackwort
Hoodia
In Polish
Blackwort
Hoodia
In Latin
Blackwort
Hoodia
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Lamiales
Gentianales
Family
Boraginaceae
Apocynaceae
Genus
Symphytum
Hoodia
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
-
Stapeliae
Subfamily
Boraginoideae
Asclepiadoideae
Number of Species
3525
1
27800
👆🏻