Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Broadleaf Evergreen
Shrub
Origin
Europe, Russia
United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States
Types
Symphytum officinale (common comfrey), Symphytum asperum (rough comfrey)
-
Number of Varieties
210
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Cold Regions, stream banks
Sunny Edge, Woodland Garden
USDA Hardiness Zone
6-116-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
10-6
Sunset Zone
21,22
7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Thicket/Colonizing
Plant Size
Minimum Height
20.00 cm300.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
90.00 cm300.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Light Pink
White
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Orange Red
Bronze, Sandy Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Red, Green, Copper
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Blue Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Blue Green
-
Leaf Color in Winter
Red, Dark Green, Burgundy, Bronze
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oval
Oblanceolate to oval
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Medium
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Late Spring, Early Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Wet Site
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
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
Average Water Needs, Needs Very high moisture
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, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Cut or pinch the stems, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, 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
-
Plant Tolerance
Shallow soil, Sun
Drought
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
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Ants, Butterflies, pollinators
Butterflies
Allergy
Antibacterial, Peripheral Edema
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Borders
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
Astringent, Styptic
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Twigs
Bark, Flowers, Wood
Other Uses
Used for its medicinal properties
Used for woodware
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Mixed Border, Tropical
Foundation, Mixed Border, Screening, Wind Break
Botanical Name
Symphytum asperum
CYRILLA racemiflora
Common Name
Comfrey,Black Root, Blackwort, Bruisewort
Leatherwood, Ironwood, Myrtle
In Hindi
Blackwort
Leatherwood
In German
Blackwort
Leather
In French
Blackwort
Leatherwood
In Spanish
Blackwort
Leatherwood
In Greek
Blackwort
Leatherwood
In Portuguese
Blackwort
Leatherwood
In Polish
Blackwort
Leatherwood
In Latin
Blackwort
Leatherwood
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Lamiales
Ericales
Family
Boraginaceae
Cyrillaceae
Genus
Symphytum
Cyrilla
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Boraginoideae
-
Number of Species
355
1
27800
👆🏻