Symphytum officinale: Uses (Ethnobotany)
Medicinal use for injuries
Plant Profile: Symphytum officinale
Taxonomy: Symphytum officinaleNames
Boneset, Comfrey, Common Comfrey, Consound, Cultivated Comfrey, Knitbone, Quaker Comfrey, Slippery-Root, True Comfrey
Phonetic Spelling:sim-FY-tum oh-fiss-ih-NAH-lee
Genus:Symphytum
Species:officinale
Family:Boraginaceae
Comfrey is a term that encompasses several species of plants known for their historical use as a medicinal herb, particularly for treating both external and internal injuries. However, it is now considered unsafe for consumption.
This plant thrives in conditions ranging from full sun to partial shade, preferring well-drained, moist, and nutrient-rich soil. During the hot summers in North Carolina, it benefits from some shade. Comfrey is resistant to deer and can withstand drought as well as thrive in clay soil. Due to its tendency to spread easily and regenerate from any remaining root fragments after removal, cultivating it in large containers can help manage its growth effectively.
Symphytum officinale Feature Summary
Symphytum officinale Image Gallery
Tags
#showy flowers
#full sun tolerant
#drought tolerant
#purple flowers
#medicinal
#tuberous
#cottage garden
#herb garden
#moist soil
#well-drained soil
#deer resistant
#herbaceous perennial
#division
#coarse
#rich soil
#colonies
#naturalizes
#wildflower garden
#clumping
#naturalized area
#clay soils tolerant
#partial shade tolerant
#herb
#meadows
#woodlands
#container plants
Similar Plants
Symphytum officinale Feature Summary
Attributes
Medicinal use for injuries
Europe, W. Asia
Perennial
Seed
Division
Root Cutting
Flowers
Bluebell-like purple flowers that grow in clusters. Blooms in late spring and early summer, May to June.
Pink
Purple/Lavender
White
Spring
Summer
Tubular
Leaves
Large, coarse leaves covered in hair. The base of the upper leaves run down the length of the stem.
Green
Simple
Rosulate
Ovate
Lanceolate
Entire
> 6 inches
Rough
3-6 inches
Stem
Poisonous to Humans
Ingestion can lead to liver damage, lung damage, and cancer. Considered possibly safe to use externally.
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids
Medium
Seeds
Leaves
Stems
Sap/Juice
Flowers
Bark
Fruits
Roots
Whole Plant Traits
Herbaceous Perennial
Wildflower
Spreading
Clumping
Medium
Coarse
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Dry
12 inches-3 feet
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Landscape
Drought Tolerant Garden
Cottage Garden
Drought
Deer
Dry Soil
Container
Woodland
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Symphytum officinale Image Gallery
Symphytum officinale Attributes
Symphytum officinale: Country Or Region Of Origin
Europe, W. Asia
Symphytum officinale: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Symphytum officinale: Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Symphytum officinale Flowers
Symphytum officinale: Flower Description
Bluebell-like purple flowers that grow in clusters. Blooms in late spring and early summer, May to June.
Symphytum officinale: Flower Color
Pink
Purple/Lavender
White
Symphytum officinale: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Symphytum officinale: Flower Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Symphytum officinale: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Symphytum officinale: Flower Shape
Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel
Symphytum officinale Leaves
Symphytum officinale: Leaf Description
Large, coarse leaves covered in hair. The base of the upper leaves run down the length of the stem.
Symphytum officinale: Leaf Color
Green
Symphytum officinale: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Symphytum officinale: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Symphytum officinale: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Symphytum officinale: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Symphytum officinale: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Symphytum officinale: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Symphytum officinale: Leaf Feel
Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy
Symphytum officinale: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Symphytum officinale Stem
Symphytum officinale: Stem Description
Stems are winged.
Symphytum officinale: Stem Color
Green
Symphytum officinale: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Symphytum officinale: Stem Surface
Corky Ridges
Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
Dull
Hairy (pubescent)
Polished
Smooth (glabrous)
Symphytum officinale Poisonous to Humans
Symphytum officinale: Poison Symptoms
Ingestion can lead to liver damage, lung damage, and cancer. Considered possibly safe to use externally.
Symphytum officinale: Poison Toxic Principle
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids
Symphytum officinale: Poison Severity
High
Low
Medium
Symphytum officinale: Causes Contact Dermatitis
No
Yes
Symphytum officinale: Poison Part
Bark
Flowers
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Sap/Juice
Seeds
Stems
Symphytum officinale Whole Plant Traits
Symphytum officinale: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Symphytum officinale: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Symphytum officinale: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Symphytum officinale: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Symphytum officinale Cultural Conditions
Symphytum officinale: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Symphytum officinale: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Symphytum officinale: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Symphytum officinale: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Symphytum officinale: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
4a
4b
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
Symphytum officinale: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Symphytum officinale Landscape
Symphytum officinale: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Symphytum officinale: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Symphytum officinale: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
