Comfrey (Symphytum 'Hidcote Blue')
Symphytum 'Hidcote Blue' Comfrey is a vigorous herbaceous perennial prized for its attractive foliage and soft blue/white spring flowers. Ideal for naturalizing.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Symphytum ‘Hidcote Blue’, commonly known as Comfrey, brings robust texture and lovely cool-toned blooms to the garden from mid-spring into early summer. This hybrid cultivar is notable for its low-spreading habit and its attractive, light green, crinkled foliage that acts as excellent ground cover. Gardeners value this Comfrey for its persistence and low maintenance once established.
This herbaceous perennial thrives best when given space, as Symphytum ‘Hidcote Blue’ spreads persistently via creeping rhizomes, making it effective for filling large areas or wilder garden spaces. While it features beautiful, bell-shaped flowers reminiscent of bluebells, it is essential to note that this specific cultivar is generally grown for ornamental purposes, not for the medicinal uses sometimes associated with other traditional comfrey species, and its leaves should not be ingested.
When properly sited, Symphytum ‘Hidcote Blue’ handles a range of light conditions, adapting well from full sun to part shade, provided soil moisture is consistent. Its tough nature ensures it performs admirably even with respectable drought tolerance once mature, solidifying its role as a reliable, long-lived addition to naturalized plantings or established borders.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Boraginaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-8
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 1-1.5 ft
- Spread: 1-1.5 ft
- Bloom Time: May to June
- Bloom Description: Soft blue and white
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Medium
How to Grow
For optimal growth, plant Symphytum ‘Hidcote Blue’ in the spring or early fall in average, medium, well-drained soils. While it tolerates dry shade once established, this Comfrey performs best when situated in moist, organically rich soil locations, ideally receiving part shade to prevent scorching during intense afternoon sun.
Watering should be medium; ensure the soil remains consistently moist, especially during establishment. Fertilization is rarely necessary if the soil is already rich in organic matter. Maintenance involves trimming the foliage as needed to maintain desired shape. Promptly cutting back the stems immediately after the initial bloom period may encourage a secondary flush of flowers.
Be fully aware that Comfrey spreads aggressively by creeping rhizomes. Managing this spread is critical; digging out any piece of root left behind can lead to new plant growth, making removal difficult. Propagation is easily achieved through root cuttings or by simple division of existing clumps.
Landscape Uses
The vigorous habit of Symphytum ‘Hidcote Blue’ makes it highly recommended for naturalizing in large garden areas. Consider planting it in woodland gardens, deep cottage gardens, or wildflower meadows where its spreading nature is an asset rather than a hindrance. It forms an attractive, dense ground cover over time, suppressing less vigorous weeds.
This Comfrey also performs well in traditional borders, lending its large foliage texture to the mid-ground. Due to its growth habit, companion planting requires selecting hardy, space-tolerant partners that can compete or handle being slightly crowded by the handsome, coarse leaves of the Comfrey.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Comfrey is a coarse, hairy, rhizomatous perennial generally appreciated for its attractive foliage and spring flowers resembling Virginia bluebells. The genus name originates from Greek words suggesting growth and healing, referencing its historical use as a poultice, though modern cultivars like ‘Hidcote Blue’ are grown strictly ornamentally, as ingestion of the leaves is toxic. Symphytum ‘Hidcote Blue’ forms a low clump, reaching about 18 inches tall, featuring crinkled, light green leaves and soft blue and white, bell-shaped flowers in drooping clusters.
Tolerances
- Deer
- Drought
Potential Problems
Symphytum ‘Hidcote Blue’ is generally robust and does not suffer from any serious insect or disease issues when grown in appropriate conditions. However, gardeners should remain vigilant for damage caused by common garden mollusks. Slugs and snails may find the foliage palatable, especially in damp or shaded spots. Management usually involves routine inspection and applying slug bait or physical barriers if populations become problematic.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Comfrey suitable for?
Symphytum ‘Hidcote Blue’ is reliably hardy across USDA Zones 4 through 8.
How large does Symphytum ‘Hidcote Blue’ grow?
This herbaceous perennial typically reaches a height between 1 to 1.5 feet and spreads to a similar width of 1 to 1.5 feet, although its rhizomes may spread further aggressively.
When does Comfrey bloom?
The charming, bell-shaped flowers of Symphytum ‘Hidcote Blue’ appear reliably from May to June, displaying soft blue and white coloration.
What sun exposure does Symphytum ‘Hidcote Blue’ need?
This plant is adaptable, performing well in full sun or tolerating partial shade quite successfully.
Conclusion
Symphytum ‘Hidcote Blue’ offers unparalleled structural texture and dependable, attractive spring blooms, making it a foundational plant for naturalized or cottage garden settings. Its deer and drought tolerance adds significantly to its appeal as a low-fuss perennial. Evaluate your garden space to ensure you can accommodate its spreading nature, and plant your Comfrey during the appropriate season for best establishment.
Propagation Tips
Propagation of Symphytum ‘Hidcote Blue’ is straightforward, relying primarily on vegetative methods rather than seed. The most common and successful technique involves root division, which should be performed in early spring before new top growth fully emerges or in the fall after the foliage has died back. Carefully dig up sections of the clump, ensuring each division retains healthy root material.
Division serves the dual purpose of replenishing your garden and controlling the spread of existing plants. As any small root fragment left behind can regenerate a full plant, be methodical during division to avoid unwanted regrowth. Alternatively, root cuttings can be taken by removing healthy roots in late winter, cutting them into 1-2 inch sections, and planting them shallowly in a separate prepared nursery bed.
Companion Planting
When integrating Symphytum ‘Hidcote Blue’ into a mixed border, select companions that can either withstand its spreading root system or that benefit from its nutrient-rich potential (if used as chop-and-drop mulch). Good companions include species that appreciate similar soil moisture levels but don’t mind competition, such as hardy Hostas or Ferns in shadier spots.
In sunnier, larger meadow plantings, pair the Comfrey with other vigorous perennials like hardy Geraniums or ornamental grasses that can establish quickly and handle the dappled sunlight filtering through the foliage. Avoid placing delicate, slow-growing plants directly adjacent to Symphytum ‘Hidcote Blue’ due to its aggressive ground-covering nature.
