Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Broadleaf Evergreen
Origin
North America, Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean, Caribbean, Central America, South America
Europe, Russia
Types
Cryptanthus 'Absolute Zero'
Cryptanthus 'Agate'
Cryptanthus 'Alberta'
Cryptanthus 'Alpine Frost'
Symphytum officinale (common comfrey), Symphytum asperum (rough comfrey)
Number of Varieties
4802
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Lowland evergreen rainforest, Rainforest, Shaded sites, Wild
Cold Regions, stream banks
USDA Hardiness Zone
-99996-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
-
Sunset Zone
-
21,22
Habit
-
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
20.00 cm20.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
15.00 cm90.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
-
White, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Orange Red
Leaf Color in Spring
-
Red, Green, Copper
Leaf Color in Summer
-
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Fall
-
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Red, Dark Green, Burgundy, Bronze
Shape
Leaf Shape
Linear
Oval
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
-
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
-
Medium
Type of Soil
-
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
-
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
-
Well drained
Bloom Time
-
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
-
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
Root Division, Transplanting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do not water excessively, Keep the Soil well drained
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
Soil Type
-
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
-
Well drained
Sun Exposure
-
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Pinch or prune as they grow to promote branching and bushiness, Pinching, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Cut or pinch the stems, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Does not require fertilizer once established
14-14-14 Fertilizer, All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, can go long without fertilizers
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
Aphids, Stem spot
Plant Tolerance
Variety of soil types
Shallow soil, Sun
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
Foliage Sheen
-
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Ladybug beetles, Mealybugs, Scale Insects
Ants, Butterflies, pollinators
Allergy
-
Antibacterial, Peripheral Edema
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Borders, Decorating walls, Ground Cover
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Acne, Beautiful Skin, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Fixes Nitrogen
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Asthma, Diarrhea, Obesity, Osteoarthritis
Part of Plant Used
-
Leaves, Twigs
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant, useful as a ground cover
Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
-
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
CRYPTANTHUS
Symphytum asperum
Common Name
Cryptanthus, Earth Star
Comfrey,Black Root, Blackwort, Bruisewort
In Hindi
Earth Star
Blackwort
In German
Erdstern
Blackwort
In French
Terre étoile
Blackwort
In Spanish
estrella de la tierra
Blackwort
In Greek
γη αστεριών
Blackwort
In Portuguese
Estrela da terra
Blackwort
In Polish
Gwiazda ziemi
Blackwort
In Latin
terra, stella
Blackwort
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Bromeliales
Lamiales
Family
Bromeliaceae
Boraginaceae
Genus
Cryptanthus
Symphytum
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Bromelioideae
Boraginoideae
Number of Species
5035
1
27800
👆🏻