Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Fern
Broadleaf Evergreen
Origin
Australia
Europe, Russia
Types
Polystichum solitarium
Symphytum officinale (common comfrey), Symphytum asperum (rough comfrey)
Habitat
Shady Edge, Woodland Garden Dappled Shade
Cold Regions, stream banks
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-11
6-11
Habit
Arching/Fountain-shaped
Upright/Erect
Flower Color
-
White, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
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
Green, Dark Green
Red, Dark Green, Burgundy, Bronze
Leaf Shape
Saw-tooth like
Oval
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Shade, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
All year
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Tolerances
Drought, Dry Conditions, Light Frost, Shade areas, Variety of soil types
-
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Divison, From Rhizomes, Spores
Root Division, Transplanting
Plant Maintenance
Low
Low
Watering Requirements
when new, water every week
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 pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Shade, Partial shade
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
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
14-14-14 Fertilizer, All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, can go long without fertilizers
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free
Aphids, Stem spot
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry Conditions, Light Frost, Shade areas, Variety of soil types
Shallow soil, Sun
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Invasive
Sometimes
Sometimes
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Ants, Butterflies, pollinators
Allergy
-
Antibacterial, Peripheral Edema
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
Acne, Beautiful Skin, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for animals
Air purification, Fixes Nitrogen
Medicinal Uses
Poultice, Sore throat, Tonsillitis
Asthma, Diarrhea, Obesity, Osteoarthritis
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Root, Stem
Leaves, Twigs
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Tropical, Water Gardens
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
Polystichum munitum
Symphytum asperum
Common Name
Swordfern, western swordfern
Comfrey,Black Root, Blackwort, Bruisewort
In Hindi
Swordfern
Blackwort
In German
Sword Fern
Blackwort
In French
Epée Fern
Blackwort
In Spanish
helecho espada
Blackwort
In Greek
ξίφος φτέρη
Blackwort
In Portuguese
espada Fern
Blackwort
In Polish
Miecz Fern
Blackwort
In Latin
Fern gladio
Blackwort
Phylum
Pteridophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Filicopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Polypodiales
Lamiales
Family
Dryopteridaceae
Boraginaceae
Genus
Polystichum
Symphytum
Clade
-
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Subfamily
-
Boraginoideae
Importance of Swordfern and Comfrey
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Swordfern and Comfrey. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Swordfern and Comfrey as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of Swordfern is Poultice, Sore throat and Tonsillitis whereas of Comfrey is Asthma, Diarrhea, Obesity and Osteoarthritis. Swordfern has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin while Comfrey has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin.
Compare Facts of Swordfern vs Comfrey
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of Swordfern vs Comfrey and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of Swordfern are whereas of Comfrey have Antibacterial and Peripheral Edema respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Swordfern has no showy fruits and Comfrey has showy fruits. Also Swordfern is not flowering and Comfrey is not flowering . You can compare Swordfern and Comfrey facts and facts of other plants too.