In this video I wrap up planting comfrey in the South wall garden, and then share with you the innumerable projects I have growing on around here.
If you want to plant comfrey in your garden, I've also included some information from Google and Gemini AI.
Comfrey is a truly remarkable plant that serves as a living, self-maintaining fertilizer factory for your garden. Its deep taproots pull nutrients and minerals from the subsoil, making them available to your other plants as a nutrient-rich mulch or compost activator.
Is comfrey easy to grow?
Yes, comfrey is exceptionally easy to grow. It is a robust and resilient perennial plant that, once established, requires very little maintenance. It is known to thrive in a wide range of soils and can tolerate everything from full sun to partial shade. The key is to get it established, and then you can “chop and drop” its leaves throughout the growing season to feed your other garden plants.
Is it legal to grow comfrey in the USA?
Yes, it is legal to grow comfrey in the USA. However, it's important to be aware of the plant's medicinal reputation. While it was once commonly used for internal consumption, it contains compounds that can be harmful to the liver if ingested. For this reason, comfrey is no longer sold for internal use, but it is widely and safely used as an external remedy for sprains and bruises, and most importantly for gardeners, as a fantastic soil-building plant.
Can comfrey be invasive?
This is a very important question, and the answer depends on the variety you choose. Common comfrey (Symphytum officinale) and some other types can spread aggressively by seed and are considered invasive in some regions. However, the sterile hybrid varieties, which do not produce viable seeds, are not invasive in the same way. You can also easily propagate new plants by dividing the root crown.
In my garden I plant a sterile variety known as ‘Bocking 14' comfrey (a cultivar of Symphytum x uplandicum). This is the type most recommended for gardeners who want to avoid the invasiveness of seed-spreading varieties.
Does comfrey come back every year?
Yes, comfrey is a perennial plant. It is very cold-hardy, with the above-ground foliage dying back in the winter and regrowing vigorously from its roots each spring. In a warm climate like mine in Zone 9B, it may not die back completely, but you will notice it slowing down in the cooler months and taking off again with the heat and rain.
Is borage the same as comfrey?
No, borage and comfrey are not the same plant, though they are in the same plant family (Boraginaceae) and share some similarities. Both have hairy leaves and attract pollinators, but they have distinct differences. Borage is an annual plant, meaning it completes its life cycle in one year, though it will often self-seed readily.
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About Michelle In The Meadow
I'm growing on a 1/4 acre suburban lot. I started gardening here 6 years ago and am glad you are here.
We have more than 80 individual fruit trees and shrubs and more than a dozen different kinds of annuals growing on this property. The slopes make for some interesting ways to garden, but we're trying to make the best of it.
On the first Sunday evening of each month (7PM Eastern), I go live on YouTube sharing updates and answering your questions.
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