Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Broadleaf Evergreen
Origin
Southern Africa
Europe, Russia
Types
Hoodia albispina, Hoodia flava, Hoodia bainii
Symphytum officinale (common comfrey), Symphytum asperum (rough comfrey)
Number of Varieties
252
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert
Cold Regions, stream banks
USDA Hardiness Zone
12-156-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
-
Sunset Zone
12, 13, 21, 22, 23, 24
21,22
Habit
Clump-Forming
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.50 cm20.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.50 cm90.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Red, Pink, Tan
White, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Orange Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Blue Green, Gray Green
Red, Green, Copper
Leaf Color in Summer
-
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Blue Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Blue Green, Gray Green
Red, Dark Green, Burgundy, Bronze
Shape
Leaf Shape
-
Oval
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Very 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
-
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Root Division, Transplanting
Plant Maintenance
Low
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Water when top layer of soil becomes dry
Allow to dry out slightly between watering, Water daily during growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Average Water
Moderate
In Winter
Once a week
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
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
No pruning needed in the early stages
Cut or pinch the stems, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
No fertilizers needed
14-14-14 Fertilizer, All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, can go long without fertilizers
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Aphids, Stem spot
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Full Sun, Shade areas
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
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Flies, Insects
Ants, Butterflies, pollinators
Allergy
Dry Mouth
Antibacterial, Peripheral Edema
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Weightloss
Acne, Beautiful Skin, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Food for insects
Air purification, Fixes Nitrogen
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Weight loss
Asthma, Diarrhea, Obesity, Osteoarthritis
Part of Plant Used
Stem
Leaves, Twigs
Other Uses
Can be made into a herbal tea, 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
Hoodia gordonii
Symphytum asperum
Common Name
ǁhoba, Ghaap
Comfrey,Black Root, Blackwort, Bruisewort
In Hindi
Hoodia
Blackwort
In German
Hoodia
Blackwort
In French
Hoodia
Blackwort
In Spanish
Hoodia
Blackwort
In Greek
Hoodia
Blackwort
In Portuguese
Hoodia
Blackwort
In Polish
Hoodia
Blackwort
In Latin
Hoodia
Blackwort
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Gentianales
Lamiales
Family
Apocynaceae
Boraginaceae
Genus
Hoodia
Symphytum
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Stapeliae
-
Subfamily
Asclepiadoideae
Boraginoideae
Number of Species
2535
1
27800
👆🏻