Arbor Gate's Picks
of the Month

Comfrey

December 8, 2016 Back to Picks >

Comfrey is a hardy perennial of long usage as a forage crop as well as the source of numerous ages-old medicinal remedies. Its clumping habit, large, attractive, bristly leaves, and floral stalks make it a stunning addition to any garden lacking a dramatic focal point.

Comfrey is a deep-rooted plant requiring good soil and ample water, growing about 3 feet in height when flowering, and spreading eventually to a clump of 2 to 3 feet in diameter. The blooms can be white, pink, or purple, and they appear throughout the summer.

Grow Comfrey in full sun or partial shade. Because it is propagated only by root division, it may not be available at all times — so take advantage of any opportunity to add an example to your landscape.

This is a fine herb for the wild garden — place it in a corner by itself, as the roots are tenacious and once established, difficult to dig up. Be sure to allow space for its eventual 3-foot diameter.

As a landscaping element, Comfrey make an outstanding statement!