This month Linda Hooper gave a presentation about “The Wonderful Comfrey,” Symphytum.

Symphytum is a genus of flowering plants in the borage family, Boraginaceae and is native to Europe and Asia.

In Latin it means to “grow together” and has also been known as Knitbone.  Historically it was used as a medicinal herb, known to help knit broken bones.

Comfrey is known as a soil builder as it helps cycle nutrients through the soil.  It has been used as a fertilizer by chopping the leaves and putting them in water.  In the compost pile it adds nitrogen and potassium to the compost.

Originally it was used for its medicinal properties, however scientists have now discovered that it contains a toxic substance which can cause liver damage when absorbed through the skin.

The plant grows quite large reaching 2 feet wide and 4 feet high and is invasive due to the deep tap root.  Comfrey grows in partial sun and is deer resistant, it requires very little maintenance and is frost and drought hardy.

The flowers are bell shaped, pinkish and attract pollinators, especially bumble bees and other beneficial insects.  Comfrey is one of the top ten plants whose nectar attracts bumble bees.

Comfrey is hard to find in nurseries since it doesn’t do well when potted.  In the garden it can live for up to twenty years, dying back each winter.