Comfrey Confusion - Plant Identification

Comfrey Confusion - Plant Identification

Comfrey Confusion - Plant Identification

It's one of the cornerstone plants in permaculture and forest gardening. Comfrey is a deep rooted leafy perennial that provides a range of benefits and uses.

There are a number of other plants that have a similar appearance and look a bit like comfrey.

 Related

Pentaglottis sempervirens

Pentaglottis sempervirens

Common name   Alkanet, Forget-me-not
Botanical name   Pentaglottis sempervirens
Family   Boraginaceae
Details   Loved by bees, this plant is easy to grow to the point of being a weed.
Easily propagated via seed and roof pieces
Diameter   1.00
Flowers   Blue
Drought tolerance  
Evergreen  
Perennial  
Soil type   Most
Broadleaved dock

Broadleaved dock

Botanical name   Rumex obtusifolius
Details  
  • Perennial weed with large broad leaves and a thick, strong taproot
  • Most common in damp waste places and pastures, especially in higher fertility areas such as stockyards, cowsheds, water troughs and gardens.
  • Up to 1m tall when flowering at almost any time of the year. Stems erect and leafy with whorls of green to red flowers that later turn brown
  • Leaves broad and flat, heart-shaped at the base.
  • Grow to 35 cm long and 15 cm wide, hairy underneath and with long stalks
  • Fruit are small, heart-shaped, brown, three angled nuts approximately 2.5 mm long
  • Stems become stiff and woody as the plant matures.

Benefits
  • Leaves can be used to soothe a range of skin irritations including mosquito bites and nettle rash
  • Leaves may be used in cooking (cream soup and casseroles). and also in salads
  • Roots have been used as a coffee substitute.
Comfrey

Comfrey

Botanical name   Symphytum officinale
Family   Boraginaceae
Details   Fantastic companion plant for forest gardens. Chop and drop through spring and summer to nourish adjacent trees and improve soil quality.
Diameter   1.00
Height (m)   0.5
Perennial  
Shade / Sun   Full sun - part shade

 Click tags to see other related content

identification