Life Span
Annual and Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Broadleaf Evergreen
Origin
Southern Europe, Mediterranean
Europe, Russia
Types
Silver Lace, Cirrus
Symphytum officinale (common comfrey), Symphytum asperum (rough comfrey)
Number of Varieties
32
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Coastal Regions, Warmer regions
Cold Regions, stream banks
USDA Hardiness Zone
7-116-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
-
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
21,22
Habit
Cushion/Mound-forming
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
20.30 cm20.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.50 cm90.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Yellow, Purple
White, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Tan
Orange Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Blue Green, Silver
Red, Green, Copper
Leaf Color in Summer
Blue Green, Silver
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Blue Green, Silver
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Red, Dark Green, Burgundy, Bronze
Shape
Leaf Shape
Irregular
Oval
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Medium
Medium
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
-
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Root Division, Transplanting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Do Not over Water, Never Over-water, Requires regular watering, Requires watering in the growing season, Water Deeply
Allow to dry out slightly between watering, Water daily during growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove dead leaves, Remove deadheads
Cut or pinch the stems, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
fertilize every 2-3 weeks while growing, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium
14-14-14 Fertilizer, All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, can go long without fertilizers
Pests and Diseases
Blight, Downy mildew, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Rust, White mold
Aphids, Stem spot
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Shallow soil, Sun
Flowers
Insignificant
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
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
Sometimes
Sometimes
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Flying insects, Insects
Ants, Butterflies, pollinators
Allergy
Avoid during Pregnancy, Skin irritation, Skin rash, Toxic
Antibacterial, Peripheral Edema
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Acne, Beautiful Skin, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for insects, Prevent Soil Erosion
Air purification, Fixes Nitrogen
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Headache, Menstrual Disorders, Migraines
Asthma, Diarrhea, Obesity, Osteoarthritis
Part of Plant Used
Leaves
Leaves, Twigs
Other Uses
Employed in herbal medicine, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Cutflower, Edging, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
CENTAUREA cineraria
Symphytum asperum
Common Name
Silver dust
Comfrey,Black Root, Blackwort, Bruisewort
In Hindi
डस्टी मिलर
Blackwort
In German
Dusty Miller
Blackwort
In French
Dusty Miller
Blackwort
In Spanish
Dusty Miller
Blackwort
In Greek
Dusty Miller
Blackwort
In Portuguese
Dusty Miller
Blackwort
In Polish
Dusty Miller
Blackwort
In Latin
Dusty Cicero
Blackwort
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Anthophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Asterales
Lamiales
Family
Asteraceae
Boraginaceae
Genus
Centaurea
Symphytum
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Cynareae
-
Subfamily
Carduoideae
Boraginoideae
Number of Species
135
1
27800
👆🏻