Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Broadleaf Evergreen
Origin
North America, South America, Brazil
Europe, Russia
Types
Peanut cactus
Symphytum officinale (common comfrey), Symphytum asperum (rough comfrey)
Number of Varieties
1282
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert, Sandy areas, Semi desert
Cold Regions, stream banks
USDA Hardiness Zone
12-156-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
-
Sunset Zone
12, 13, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 24
21,22
Habit
Upright/Erect
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.00 cm20.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
15.20 cm90.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Yellow, Red, Purple, Orange, Rose
White, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Orange Red
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
-
Red, Dark Green, Burgundy, Bronze
Shape
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Oval
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
-
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Full Sun, Heat Tolerance, Rocky Soil
-
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Grafting, Seedlings, Stem Planting
Root Division, Transplanting
Plant Maintenance
Low
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water, Water once every two or three weeks, Water when top layer of soil becomes dry
Allow to dry out slightly between watering, Water daily during growing season
In Summer
Average Water
Lots of watering
In Spring
Average Water
Moderate
In Winter
Less Watering
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
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, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Cut or pinch the stems, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
fertilize in growing season, fertilize in summer, Potassium
14-14-14 Fertilizer, All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, can go long without fertilizers
Pests and Diseases
Mealybugs, Scale
Aphids, Stem spot
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil, Full Sun, Heat Tolerance, Rocky Soil
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
Bold
Medium
Foliage Sheen
-
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Hummingbirds
Ants, Butterflies, pollinators
Allergy
Skin cuts
Antibacterial, Peripheral Edema
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Acne, Beautiful Skin, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for insects, Versatility, Very little waste
Air purification, Fixes Nitrogen
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Burns, Heals minor burns, Heart problems, High blood pressure, Wounds
Asthma, Diarrhea, Obesity, Osteoarthritis
Part of Plant Used
Leaves
Leaves, Twigs
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, 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
Container, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
ECHINOPSIS
Symphytum asperum
Common Name
Hedgehog Cactus, Sea urchin cactus
Comfrey,Black Root, Blackwort, Bruisewort
In Hindi
हाथी कैक्टस
Blackwort
In German
Igel Kaktus
Blackwort
In French
hérisson cactus
Blackwort
In Spanish
cactus de erizo
Blackwort
In Greek
κάκτος σκαντζόχοιρος
Blackwort
In Portuguese
hedgehog cactus
Blackwort
In Polish
jeż kaktus
Blackwort
In Latin
cactus
Blackwort
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Lamiales
Family
Cactaceae
Boraginaceae
Genus
Echinopsis
Symphytum
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Trichocereeae
-
Subfamily
Cactoideae
Boraginoideae
Number of Species
200035
1
27800
👆🏻