Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Broadleaf Evergreen
Origin
Southeastern United States
Europe, Russia
Types
Tree
Symphytum officinale (common comfrey), Symphytum asperum (rough comfrey)
Number of Varieties
-2
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dappled Shade, Sunny Edge, Woodland Garden Canopy
Cold Regions, stream banks
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-96-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9-3
-
Sunset Zone
2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17
21,22
Habit
Pyramidal
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
460.00 cm20.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
370.00 cm90.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White
White, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Brown
Orange Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Red, Green, Copper
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Red, Orange Red
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Red, Dark Green, Burgundy, Bronze
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oblong to ablanceolate
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
Slow
Medium
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
-
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
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial 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
Nitrate based fertilizers
14-14-14 Fertilizer, All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, can go long without fertilizers
Pests and Diseases
Beetles
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
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Ants, Butterflies, pollinators
Allergy
-
Antibacterial, Peripheral Edema
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Hair Conditioner, Skin Problems
Acne, Beautiful Skin, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Fixes Nitrogen
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Cardiac, Diuretic, Refrigerant, Tonic
Asthma, Diarrhea, Obesity, Osteoarthritis
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Leaves
Leaves, Twigs
Other Uses
It is a remedy for treating fevers, Used in making tea, Used in treatment of mouth ulcers
Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Mixed Border
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
OXYDENDRUM arboreum
Symphytum asperum
Common Name
Sourwood
Comfrey,Black Root, Blackwort, Bruisewort
In Hindi
Sourwood
Blackwort
In German
Sourwood
Blackwort
In French
Sourwood
Blackwort
In Spanish
Sourwood
Blackwort
In Greek
Sourwood
Blackwort
In Portuguese
Sourwood
Blackwort
In Polish
Sourwood
Blackwort
In Latin
Sourwood
Blackwort
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Ericales
Lamiales
Family
Ericaceae
Boraginaceae
Genus
Oxydendrum
Symphytum
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Oxydendreae
-
Subfamily
Vaccinioideae
Boraginoideae
Number of Species
135
1
27800
👆🏻