Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Broadleaf Evergreen
Broadleaf Evergreen
Origin
Asia, Nepal, China, Japan, Korea
Europe, Russia
Types
Apricot Gold, Butter Yellow, Orange Supreme, Dan
Symphytum officinale (common comfrey), Symphytum asperum (rough comfrey)
Number of Varieties
302
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dappled Shade, Woodland Garden Canopy
Cold Regions, stream banks
USDA Hardiness Zone
6-116-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12 - 8
-
Sunset Zone
21,22
21,22
Habit
Upright/Erect
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.00 cm20.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
180.00 cm90.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Orange
White, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Blue, Black
Orange Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
Red, Green, Copper
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
Red, Dark Green, Burgundy, Bronze
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oval, Finely Dentate
Oval
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Medium
Medium
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring, Late Spring, Early Fall, Fall
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
-
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Semi-hardwood cuttings
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
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove no more than one-third of each branch
Cut or pinch the stems, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-purpose dry fertilizer
14-14-14 Fertilizer, All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, can go long without fertilizers
Pests and Diseases
-
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
Nematodes
Ants, Butterflies, pollinators
Allergy
-
Antibacterial, Peripheral Edema
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Showy Purposes
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin and hair
Acne, Beautiful Skin, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Fixes Nitrogen
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antitussive
Asthma, Diarrhea, Obesity, Osteoarthritis
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Flowers, Fruits, Stem
Leaves, Twigs
Other Uses
Used as essential oil, Used as insect repellent, Used in herbal medicines, Used in tea, wine and sweet dishes
Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Screening, Wind Break, Topiary, Bonsai, Espalier
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
OSMANTHUS fragrans
Symphytum asperum
Common Name
Sweet olive, Sweet osmanthus, Tea olive
Comfrey,Black Root, Blackwort, Bruisewort
In Hindi
Sweet Olive
Blackwort
In German
Sweet Olive
Blackwort
In French
Olive douce
Blackwort
In Spanish
Oliva dulce
Blackwort
In Greek
γλυκό Ελιά
Blackwort
In Portuguese
Olive doce
Blackwort
In Polish
słodki Olive
Blackwort
In Latin
Dulce Olive
Blackwort
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Scrophulariales
Lamiales
Family
Oleaceae
Boraginaceae
Genus
Osmanthus
Symphytum
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Oleeae
-
Subfamily
-
Boraginoideae
Number of Species
1535
1
27800
👆🏻