Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Broadleaf Evergreen
Tree
Origin
Europe, Russia
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
Types
Symphytum officinale (common comfrey), Symphytum asperum (rough comfrey)
Guaiacum officinale
Number of Varieties
23
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Cold Regions, stream banks
Coastal Regions, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Thickets, Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
6-1110-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
12-10
Sunset Zone
21,22
H1, H2
Habit
Upright/Erect
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
20.00 cm300.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
90.00 cm370.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Light Pink
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Orange Red
Yellow, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Red, Green, Copper
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Blue Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Blue Green
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Winter
Red, Dark Green, Burgundy, Bronze
Olive
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oval
Egg-shaped
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
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
Ground
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
Requires watering in the growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Consistently
In Spring
Moderate
Average Water
In Winter
Average Water
Moderate
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
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
Prune to stimulate growth
Fertilizers
14-14-14 Fertilizer, All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, can go long without fertilizers
Fertilize three times a year
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Stem spot
fungus, Mealybugs, Scale, Spider mites
Plant Tolerance
Shallow soil, Sun
Drought, Salt
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
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Ants, Butterflies, pollinators
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
Antibacterial, Peripheral Edema
Skin irritation
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
Bark, Sap
Other Uses
Used for its medicinal properties
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Mixed Border, Tropical
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
Symphytum asperum
GUAIACUM sanctum
Common Name
Comfrey,Black Root, Blackwort, Bruisewort
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
In Hindi
Blackwort
Lignum Vitae
In German
Blackwort
Lignum Vitae
In French
Blackwort
Lignum Vitae
In Spanish
Blackwort
Palo santo
In Greek
Blackwort
Lignum Vitae
In Portuguese
Blackwort
pau-santo
In Polish
Blackwort
Lignum Vitae
In Latin
Blackwort
lignum Vitae
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Lamiales
Sapindales
Family
Boraginaceae
Zygophyllaceae
Genus
Symphytum
Guaiacum
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
-
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Boraginoideae
-
Number of Species
353
1
27800
👆🏻