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If you want comfrey for medicinal use, please read on. If you want comfrey for garden use, please see our other varieties – Russian Comfrey and Dwarf Evergreen Comfrey.
Symphytum officinale, also known as Common Comfrey, is a herbaceous perennial native to Europe and Asia and naturalised in North America. This species is the original plant as referred to in the ancient literature about medicinal herbs. It looks extremely similar to Russian Comfrey but the leaves are slightly more elongated and pointed at the tips, and the bell-shaped flowers open a little earlier than Russian Comfrey, and are a deeper maroon pink – very attractive. Height to 75cm when in flower.
Note – this is a true wild form of comfrey which is NOT sterile and MAY spread by seed. Russian Comfrey on the other hand is a naturally occuring hybrid which is sterile and does not spread by seed – we also sell this variety, along with dwarf evergreen comfrey which does not spread by seed. However with all types of comfrey make sure you plant it where you want it – it’s impossible to remove the deep chunky taproot!
9cm pot
Photos: Kahikatea Farm
Tolerant of full sun through to quite deep shade but does best with some shade and definitely needs extra moisture if it is growing in full sun. Cut back hard 2 – 4 times a year to harvest the fabulous mulch or compost material.
The therapeutic properties of comfrey are based on its anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. The roots and leaves have been used medicinally for centuries, 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 is also well known for the treatment of painful muscles, joint complaints and osteoarthritis. 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. It has also been used to treat ulcers and hernias due to its demulcent properties, and as an expectorant to ease bronchitis and coughs.
Comfrey contains mixed phytochemicals in varying amounts, including allantoin, mucilage, saponins, tannins, pyrrolizidine alkaloids, and inulin. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are responsible for comfrey’s hepatotoxicity, however the pyrrolizidine alkaloids echimidine and symlandine are not found in S. officinale (and indeed may be used as indicators of possible adulteration with other Symphytum species such as Russian comfrey S. × uplandicumin medicinal products). Nowadays, only pyrrolizidine-depleted or pyrrolizidine-free extracts are used in proprietary medicinal products. For more information see Comfrey – A Clinical Overview by Christiane Staiger.
Primary Actions: anti-inflammatory, analgesic, astringent, demulcent,expectorant,vulnerary
Parts Used: roots, leaves
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.
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.
