Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Broadleaf Evergreen
Tree
Origin
Europe, Russia
North America, United States, Northwestern United States, Alaska, California, Canada
Types
Symphytum officinale (common comfrey), Symphytum asperum (rough comfrey)
-
Number of Varieties
230
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Cold Regions, stream banks
Lowland evergreen rainforest
USDA Hardiness Zone
6-114-7
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
7-1
Sunset Zone
21,22
3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17
Habit
Upright/Erect
Pyramidal
Plant Size
Minimum Height
20.00 cm1,370.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
90.00 cm610.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Light Pink
Yellow, Red, Coral
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Orange Red
Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Red, Green, Copper
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Blue Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Blue Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Red, Dark Green, Burgundy, Bronze
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oval
Ovate
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
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Early Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Maritime exposure, Salt water
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Root Division, Transplanting
Layering, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Allow to dry out slightly between watering, Water daily during growing season
Average Water Needs
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
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, Nitrogen
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Stem spot
-
Plant Tolerance
Shallow soil, Sun
Maritime exposure, Salt water
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
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
Insects
Allergy
Antibacterial, Peripheral Edema
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
Acne, Beautiful Skin, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes
Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Fixes Nitrogen
Air purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shadow Tree
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Asthma, Diarrhea, Obesity, Osteoarthritis
Anodyne, Appetizer, Astringent
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Twigs
Flowers, Inner Bark, Sap
Other Uses
Used for its medicinal properties
Used as a dye, used for making charcoal, Used for making informal hedge
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Mixed Border, Tropical
Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees
Botanical Name
Symphytum asperum
ALNUS rubra
Common Name
Comfrey,Black Root, Blackwort, Bruisewort
Oregon Alder, Red Alder
In Hindi
Blackwort
red alder
In German
Blackwort
rot-Erle
In French
Blackwort
aulne rouge
In Spanish
Blackwort
aliso rojo
In Greek
Blackwort
κόκκινη σκλήθρα
In Portuguese
Blackwort
amieiro vermelho
In Polish
Blackwort
czerwony olcha
In Latin
Blackwort
red alnus
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Lamiales
Fagales
Family
Boraginaceae
Betulaceae
Genus
Symphytum
Alnus
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Boraginoideae
-
Number of Species
3535
1
27800
👆🏻