Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Grass
Broadleaf Evergreen
Origin
North America, United States, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Texas, Canada, Mexico
Europe, Russia
Types
Sorghastrum nutans
Symphytum officinale (common comfrey), Symphytum asperum (rough comfrey)
Number of Varieties
32
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Grassland, low mountains, Semi desert, Woodlands
Cold Regions, stream banks
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-96-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9 - 1
-
Sunset Zone
7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
21,22
Habit
Clump-Forming
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm20.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
45.70 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
Light Green, Blue Green
Red, Green, Copper
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Blue Green, Burgundy, Copper
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Tan
Red, Dark Green, Burgundy, Bronze
Shape
Leaf Shape
Linear
Oval
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
-
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
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, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Requires very little pruning
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
Insects
Aphids, Stem spot
Plant Tolerance
Drought and Salt
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
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Ants, Butterflies, pollinators
Allergy
Skin irritation
Antibacterial, Peripheral Edema
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
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
Whole plant
Leaves, Twigs
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant
Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Dried Flower/Everlasting, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Wildflower
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
SORGHASTRUM nutans
Symphytum asperum
Common Name
Indian Grass
Comfrey,Black Root, Blackwort, Bruisewort
In Hindi
भारतीय घास
Blackwort
In German
Indian Grass
Blackwort
In French
Herbe indienne
Blackwort
In Spanish
Hierba india
Blackwort
In Greek
Ινδικό Grass
Blackwort
In Portuguese
grama indianas
Blackwort
In Polish
Indyjski Trawa
Blackwort
In Latin
Indian Grass
Blackwort
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Poales
Lamiales
Family
Poaceae
Boraginaceae
Genus
Sorghastrum
Symphytum
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
Boraginoideae
Number of Species
935
1
27800
👆🏻