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Comfrey — Symphytum officinale

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Comfrey — Symphytum officinale

layout: base.njk title: Comfrey description: Growing Comfrey in West Virginia (Zone 6b/7a) category: medicinal

Type: Perennial
Family: Boraginaceae (Borage family)
Sun: Full sun to partial shade
Water: Moderate to high
Soil pH: 6.0-7.0
Hardiness: Zones 3-9

Quick Reference: See detailed growing information below

🌱 Expected Yield

  • Per plant: 4-6 lbs fresh leaves per season (multiple cuttings)
  • Per patch (10'x10'): 40-60 lbs fresh (12-16 plants)
  • Lifespan: 20-30+ years, essentially permanent

🏺 Varieties

Common Comfrey (Symphytum officinale)

  • Source: Herb nurseries, permaculture networks
  • Notes: Wild-type. Pink/purple flowers. Self-seeds. Vigorous.

'Bocking 14' Comfrey (Sterile Hybrid)

  • Source: Permaculture nurseries, Gurney's, specialty suppliers
  • Notes: PREFERRED VARIETY. Sterile (no seed spread). Developed by Lawrence D. Hills at Bocking Research Station (UK, 1950s). Highest allantoin content. Best for mulch, compost activator, medicinal use. Won't self-seed.

Russian Comfrey (Symphytum × uplandicum)

  • Source: Permaculture networks
  • Notes: Hybrid species. Very vigorous. Large leaves. Often sterile.

'Bocking Star' Comfrey

  • Source: European permaculture nurseries
  • Notes: Improved Bocking strain. Variegated leaves. Sterile. Ornamental and functional.

📜 Cultural History

Domesticated: Medieval Europe, from wild plants

Historical Record: - Ancient Greece: Theophrastus described comfrey. Dioscorides (77 CE) recommended for wounds, broken bones. - Name origin: "Comfrey" from Latin "conferva" = to grow together; "Symphytum" from Greek "symphis" = growing together - Medieval Europe: "Knitbone" or "boneset" (folk name). Poultices for fractures, sprains. - Traditional European medicine: Internal and external use for centuries - 1900s: Internal use fell out of favor (PA toxicity discovered 1930s) - Permaculture movement (1970s-present): Rediscovered as dynamic accumulator, compost activator

Cultural Significance: - Medieval healing herb: "Backbone of rural medicine" - Traditional use: Fresh leaves as poultice, comfrey salve - Modern permaculture: "Fertility plant"—deep roots mine nutrients (especially potassium) - Compost activator: Heats up compost pile - Liquid fertilizer: Fermented comfrey tea (high K) - Symbol of healing, resilience

🌾 Propagation Methods

Direct Sow (Common Comfrey only)

  • When: Spring (March-April) or fall (September-October)
  • Depth: ¼-½" deep
  • Spacing: 24-36" apart
  • Notes: Bocking 14 is STERILE—will not produce seed. Only common comfrey (S. officinale) sets seed. Germination erratic (14-30 days).

Root Cuttings (PRIMARY Method)

  • When: Dormant season—late fall (November) or early spring (March)
  • Length: 2-3" sections
  • Diameter: Pencil-thickness or larger
  • Method:
  • Dig mature plant carefully
  • Cut thick roots into 2-3" sections
  • Plant horizontally 2-3" deep
  • Water well, keep moist
  • Spacing: 24-36" apart
  • Success rate: 95%+—extremely vigorous
  • Notes: Every fragment regrows—even 1" pieces will produce new plants

Division

  • When: Early spring (March) or fall (September-October)
  • How: Dig entire crown, divide with sharp spade/shovel
  • Frequency: Every 5-8 years (not typically needed—plants long-lived)
  • Difficulty: Challenging—massive, deep root system
  • Notes: Each section must have crown buds and roots

Special Notes

  • Bocking 14 is sterile—propagation ONLY by root cuttings or division
  • Root fragments as small as 1" will regrow
  • This makes comfrey essentially permanent but also difficult to eradicate
  • Do not till or compost roots—they will regrow in compost pile
  • Plant carefully where permanent or in contained beds
  • Isolation: 2+ miles for common comfrey (insect-pollinated)
  • Seed viability: 3-4 years (common type only)