Life Span
Annual and Perennial
Perennial
Type
Grass
Broadleaf Evergreen
Origin
Africa
Europe, Russia
Types
Pennisetum glaucum
Symphytum officinale (common comfrey), Symphytum asperum (rough comfrey)
Number of Varieties
72
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Sunny Edge, Warmer regions
Cold Regions, stream banks
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-116-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12 - 8
-
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
21,22
Habit
Upright/Erect
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm20.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.50 cm90.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Brown, Purple, Purplish-black
White, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Brown, Cream
Orange Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Purple, Dark Green, Burgundy
Red, Green, Copper
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Purple, Dark Green, Burgundy
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Red, Dark Green, Burgundy, Bronze
Shape
Leaf Shape
Long Linear
Oval
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Very Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
-
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Root Division, Transplanting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering
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
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Prune in winter, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Cut or pinch the stems, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
15-0-15, All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
14-14-14 Fertilizer, All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, can go long without fertilizers
Pests and Diseases
Alternaria Leaf Spot, eyespot, Red blotch
Aphids, Stem spot
Plant Tolerance
Deer resistant, Drought
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
Coarse
Medium
Foliage Sheen
-
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
Sometimes
Sometimes
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Aphids, Bees, Birds
Ants, Butterflies, pollinators
Allergy
-
Antibacterial, Peripheral Edema
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
along a porch, deck or patio, Beautification, Informal Hedge, Mixed Border, Showy Purposes, Wild gardens
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
Branch, Flowering Tips, Whole plant
Leaves, Twigs
Other Uses
Beneficial species for attracting pollinators, repels deer
Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Cutflower, Dried Flower/Everlasting, Mixed Border
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
PENNISETUM glaucum 'purple millet'
Symphytum asperum
Common Name
Millet, Pearl Millet
Comfrey,Black Root, Blackwort, Bruisewort
In Hindi
purple millet
Blackwort
In German
purple millet
Blackwort
In French
millet pourpre
Blackwort
In Spanish
purple millet
Blackwort
In Greek
purple millet
Blackwort
In Portuguese
purple millet
Blackwort
In Polish
purple millet
Blackwort
In Latin
purple millet
Blackwort
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Cyperales
Lamiales
Family
Poaceae
Boraginaceae
Genus
Pennisetum
Symphytum
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Paniceae
-
Subfamily
Panicoideae
Boraginoideae
Number of Species
135
1
27800
👆🏻