Comfrey (Symphytum grandiflorum)
Symphytum grandiflorum, or Comfrey, is a coarse, hairy perennial valued for dense foliage and spring flowers. Hardy in zones 5-8.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Symphytum grandiflorum, widely recognized as Comfrey or Creeping Comfrey, is a robust, coarse, and hairy perennial prized for forming dense foliage clumps ideal for ground cover. This plant brings visual interest early in the season with its attractive leaves and charming spring flowers that transition from creamy yellow to white. Gardeners appreciate its low maintenance needs and its ability to thrive across a range of light conditions.
This rhizomatous perennial typically forms a low-spreading clump perfect for naturalizing in less formal garden settings. Despite its vigorous habit, the combination of dense, crinkled foliage and bell-like flowers offers significant aesthetic value in borders or woodland areas. Knowing the aggressive spread of Symphytum grandiflorum is key to successful placement.
The genus name traces back to Greek words suggesting the plant aids in healing, referencing its traditional use. For contemporary gardeners, this Comfrey serves primarily as a long-lasting groundcover that tolerates both shade and minor drought once established, making it a resilient addition to many landscapes.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Boraginaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Native Range: Europe, Caucasus
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 5-8
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 1-1.5 ft
- Spread: 1.5-2 ft
- Bloom Time: May to June
- Bloom Description: Creamy yellow to white
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Symphytum grandiflorum is adaptable, thriving best when planted in average, medium, well-drained soils. While it prefers moist, organically rich soils, particularly in partial shade where morning sun is ideal, it possesses respectable drought tolerance. Planting should ensure adequate space, as this Comfrey spreads vigorously via creeping rhizomes.
Care for your Comfrey plants is usually minimal once established. Provide medium water, especially during establishment or dry spells. Avoid excess fertilization as this encourages overly lush, floppy growth. To maintain tidiness or encourage a potential second flush of blooms, promptly cut back the stems immediately following the main flowering period in June.
Be aware that once established, this plant can be difficult to remove; even small fragments of root left in the soil can generate new plants. Propagation is easily achieved through root cuttings or simple division during the cooler months. Due to its spreading nature, consider this perennial for areas where aggressive groundcover is desired, such as woodland gardens.
Landscape Uses
The primary recommendation for Symphytum grandiflorum is to naturalize it within informal settings. It excels when allowed to colonize areas in woodland gardens, shade gardens, or natural wildflower meadows where it can form a dense, attractive ground cover over time. Its robust foliage effectively suppresses weeds beneath it.
While aggressive, Comfrey can also be incorporated into cottage gardens where its slightly coarse texture blends well with looser planting schemes. For borders, ensure it is planted toward the back or middle where its spread can either be contained or appreciated as a dense filler mingling just behind shorter perennials.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Symphytum grandiflorum, commonly called comfrey or large-flowered comfrey, is generally a coarse, hairy, rhizomatous perennial that is typically grown in borders and shade gardens for its dense attractive foliage and its spring flowers. It typically forms a low-spreading foliage clump to 18” tall consisting of both ascending flowering stems and decumbent sterile stems. Tubular, bluebell-like, creamy yellow to white flowers appear in drooping clusters (scorpiod cymes) in mid-spring to early summer.
Tolerances
- Deer
- Drought
Potential Problems
Symphytum grandiflorum is generally free from serious insect pests or disease issues, which contributes to its low maintenance profile. The main concern for gardeners involves mollusks, specifically slugs and snails, which may seasonally attack or skeletonize the large, tender foliage.
To manage these common garden nuisances, employ preventative measures early in the season, such as applying slug bait pellets around the base of the plants or utilizing copper tape barriers if grouping plants near sensitive areas. By monitoring the foliage from spring emergence, gardeners can keep damage minimal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Comfrey suitable for?
Symphytum grandiflorum is reliably hardy in USDA Zones 5 through 8.
How large does Comfrey grow?
This herbaceous perennial typically reaches a height between 1 and 1.5 feet, spreading out to a width of 1.5 to 2 feet.
When does Symphytum grandiflorum bloom?
This Comfrey variety produces its creamy yellow to white flowers primarily from May through June.
What sun exposure does Symphytum grandiflorum need?
It performs well in full sun but will tolerate partial shade, and can even manage tolerates close to full shade locations.
Conclusion
Symphytum grandiflorum offers gardeners a resilient, low-maintenance perennial valued for its dense foliage and delightful spring blooms. Its ability to naturalize makes it an excellent choice for filling difficult spots or creating soft textural masses. Coordinate your planting schedule with your local hardiness zone guidelines to ensure this Comfrey thrives for years to come.
Propagation Tips
Propagating Symphytum grandiflorum is generally straightforward due to its vigorous rhizomatous root system. The easiest and quickest method involves dividing established clumps during the spring or fall dormant seasons. When dividing, ensure each new section retains several healthy roots.
Alternatively, the plant can be readily propagated using root cuttings. Take pencil-sized pieces of root in late fall or early spring, making sure the root section has a viable bud or growing point. Plant these sections horizontally just beneath the soil surface or vertically with the bud facing upward in pots filled with sterile potting mix.
Once established, root cuttings from Symphytum grandiflorum will grow into mature plants that retain the characteristics of the parent. This ease of propagation underscores why this plant can quickly colonize areas where conditions suit its growth habit.
Companion Planting
Due to its rapid leaf production and substantial size, select companions for Symphytum grandiflorum carefully, prioritizing plants that benefit from its shaded microclimate or those that can handle its aggressive root structure. Consider pairing it with shade-loving bulbs like Daffodils or Snowdrops, as the Comfrey foliage will emerge later to hide the dying bulb foliage.
In semi-shady woodland garden settings, this Comfrey blends well with ferns that appreciate consistent moisture and organic matter. Avoid planting delicate or slow-growing perennials near it, as the dense, three-dimensional clump of Symphytum grandiflorum will quickly outcompete them for space and nutrients. Focus on plants known for their tolerance to root competition.
