Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Broadleaf Evergreen
Origin
Eastern Africa, Middle Africa
Europe, Russia
Types
Kigelia africana
Symphytum officinale (common comfrey), Symphytum asperum (rough comfrey)
Number of Varieties
92
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Riverine forest, wooded grassland
Cold Regions, stream banks
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-126-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
-
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 12, 13, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
21,22
Habit
Arching/Fountain-shaped
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,220.00 cm20.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
910.00 cm90.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Dark Red, Tan
White, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Tan
Orange Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
Red, Green, Copper
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
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
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Medium
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
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
Needs a lot of water initially
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
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
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
Balanced liquid fertilizer monthly
14-14-14 Fertilizer, All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, can go long without fertilizers
Pests and Diseases
Leaf spot, Mealybugs, Rust
Aphids, Stem spot
Plant Tolerance
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
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Ants, Butterflies, pollinators
Allergy
Poisonous when unripe
Antibacterial, Peripheral Edema
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Acne, Slow downs aging
Acne, Beautiful Skin, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Fixes Nitrogen
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Gynaecological, Malaria, STDs
Asthma, Diarrhea, Obesity, Osteoarthritis
Part of Plant Used
Dried seeds, Leaves
Leaves, Twigs
Other Uses
Used to flavour beer, Used to produce a red dye
Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Tropical
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
KIGELIA africana
Symphytum asperum
Common Name
Sausage Tree
Comfrey,Black Root, Blackwort, Bruisewort
In Hindi
Sausage Tree
Blackwort
In German
Sausage Tree
Blackwort
In French
saucisse Arbre
Blackwort
In Spanish
Árbol de salchicha
Blackwort
In Greek
λουκάνικο δέντρο
Blackwort
In Portuguese
Árvore de salsicha
Blackwort
In Polish
kiełbasa Drzewo
Blackwort
In Latin
farciminis ligno
Blackwort
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Lamiales
Lamiales
Family
Bignoniaceae
Boraginaceae
Genus
Kaempferia
Symphytum
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Tecomeae
-
Subfamily
-
Boraginoideae
Number of Species
935
1
27800
👆🏻