Life Span
Annual and Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Broadleaf Evergreen
Origin
Eastern Africa, Middle Africa
Europe, Russia
Types
-
Symphytum officinale (common comfrey), Symphytum asperum (rough comfrey)
Number of Varieties
302
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Broad-Leaved Forests, Open areas, Suburban areas, Tropical regions
Cold Regions, stream banks
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-116-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-1
-
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
21,22
Habit
Upright/Erect
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm20.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
610.00 cm90.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Light Green, Tan
White, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Light Green
Orange Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Blue Green
Red, Green, Copper
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Blue Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Blue Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Blue Green
Red, Dark Green, Burgundy, Bronze
Shape
Leaf Shape
Pinnate
Oval
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Medium
Medium
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Spring
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
-
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Grafting, Seedlings, Stem Planting, Transplanting
Root Division, Transplanting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
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
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam
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 damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Cut or pinch the stems, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
14-14-14 Fertilizer, All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, can go long without fertilizers
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Aphids, Stem spot
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Shallow soil, Sun
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
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
Bold
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Ants, Butterflies, pollinators
Allergy
-
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
Air purification, Fixes Nitrogen
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Asthma, Diarrhea, Obesity, Osteoarthritis
Part of Plant Used
Bark
Leaves, Twigs
Other Uses
Wood is used for making furniture, Wood log is used in making fences
Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Hedges, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
AFROCARPUS gracilior
Symphytum asperum
Common Name
East African Yellowwood, Fern Pine
Comfrey,Black Root, Blackwort, Bruisewort
In Hindi
फर्न पाइन
Blackwort
In German
Fern Pinien
Blackwort
In French
pin Fern
Blackwort
In Spanish
pino helecho
Blackwort
In Greek
Fern πεύκο
Blackwort
In Portuguese
pinho Fern
Blackwort
In Polish
Fern sosna
Blackwort
In Latin
Fern pinus
Blackwort
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
-
Magnoliophyta
Class
Pinopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Pinales
Lamiales
Family
Podocarpaceae
Boraginaceae
Genus
Afrocarpus
Symphytum
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Faboideae
Boraginoideae
Number of Species
635
1
27800
👆🏻