WELCOME TO OUR NEW LOOK WEBSITE! PLEASE HAVE A LOOK AROUND! NOTE MANY PLANTS HAVE NOT BEEN FULLY UPDATED YET BUT WE'RE GETTING THERE BIT BY BIT, BRINGING YOU MUCH RICHER INFORMATION WITH A MORE USER-FRIENDLY LAYOUT:)
evergreen-dwarf-comfrey-groundcover-kahikateafarm
evergreen-dwarf-comfrey-flower-kahikatea-farm

Certified Organic Plant

LEARN MORE ABOUT
HOW WE GROW YOUR PLANTS

LONG TERM OUT OF STOCK

SOLD OUT

OUT OF STOCK

AVAILABLE SPRING

AVAILABLE SUMMER

AVAILABLE AUTUMN

AVAILABLE WINTER

WINTER DORMANT

AVAILABLE SOON

Dwarf Evergreen Comfrey Pink

Symphytum grandiflorum

$10.50

Evergreen spreading perennial, also known as ornamental comfrey. Fantastic mineral accumulating ground cover plant. The flowers are pretty and similar in form to Russian comfrey but are paler peachy-pink rather than lilac, and are produced from late winter onwards, before the deciduous Russian comfrey has even resurfaced! Frost hardy. Height to 45cm.

9cm pot. Contact us for pricing for bulk smaller grades (minimum 30 plants).

Photos: Kahikatea Farm

 

Cultivation

Tolerant of full sun through to quite deep shade.  Prefers moister soils, especially if it is growing in full sun. Like the Russian comfrey, the plants do not set seed, however unlike the Russian comfrey, this species will spread on rhizomes. We have had it for years and not found it to be in the slightest bit invasive but we are very dry here. In areas with more moisture you may need to keep an eye on it!  Cutting it back hard twice a year will give you great mulch or compost material and help to keep it in check.

Uses

Comfrey has a great balance of the major plant nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, but is known in particular for its accumulation of potassium. It also contains silica, magnesium, calcium and iron. These nutrients will be naturally cycled through the soil as it dies down each winter but a well watered and fertilised patch can be harvested 3-5 times a season. The leaves can be used to make a liquid fertiliser, added to the compost heap or wilted and used to line potato trenches. Comfrey can also be grown around fruit trees as a ground cover and slashed several times a season to mulch the tree. The flowers are excellent bee attractors. The flowers are excellent bee attractors and appear very early in the season, making them extra-valuable. As the evergreen comfrey is not such a deep rooter as Russian comfrey I do wonder to what extent the mineral accumulation occurs in this species, so if this is your main reason for purchasing, I would opt for the Russian.

Young comfrey leaves are also edible for humans – use them raw or cooked. They are slightly hairy so need to be chopped up finely. Older leaves can be dried and used as tea, roots can be cut up and added to soups or roasted (and added to roasted dandelion and/or chicory roots if desired) and used as a coffee substitute. Recent scientific research however has shown comfrey appeared to cause liver damage and cancerous tumours in rats. In light of this, the regular consumption of comfrey is not advisable.

The fresh leaves make great chook fodder, are relished by geese (for relished read destroyed – and I mean totally!), and have been used as stock fodder for many years, but are preferably fed wilted.

Medicinal Uses

The roots and leaves can be used medicinally either internally, or externally as a poultice. Comfrey is particularly known for its healing properties for skin complaints such as eczema and for cuts, bruises and sprains. It is a common component of healing creams. It was once known as ‘knitbone’ for its role in healing broken bones, indeed the genus name comes from the Greek words symphyo meaning to grow together and phyton for plant as the plant was believed to help heal wounds. However, refer to the true medicinal species if this is the action you require.

History / Folklore / Further Info

Jo Says

I use this evergreen comfrey extensively in our food forest to edge beds and pathways. It is an excellent barrier plant for couch grass, outcompeting it physically with its roots, and because it is evergreen and gets the upper hand over winter. We also stock other types of comfrey. If you are wanting it for medicinal use, please choose the true medicinal comfrey, Symphytum officinale. Or if you are after fodder, biomass or nutrient cycling, choose the Russian comfrey, S. x uplandicum.

Shipping Advice

N.B. Shipping costs are added AFTER you have placed your order, you will then be emailed an invoice with bank details. 

Smallest box rate:
This can fit up to 9 plants in 9cm pots.

Shipping a single tree can be expensive. We may be able to fit more in the box for the same price! See our shipping rates for single and multi tree boxes.

Combining sizes?
No problem, we will work out the best rate for you once you’ve placed your order.

Full list of shipping rates HERE

Medical disclaimer

Jo has a passion for growing herbs but is not a qualified herbalist and has no medical background.

We are lucky to have Patricia Beagle working here at times, who is qualified, and some of her advice does appear on these pages, but herbs act differently for different people and can interact with other medicines. We therefore always recommend that you consult with your own qualified health-care practitioner before using herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing or on any medications.

Kahikatea Farm cannot take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of the plants or a plant not having the effect it is reputed to have. 

Related Products

Related Products

Search Products