Comfrey
Comfrey is a herb in the Boraginaceae family. It grows best in full sun to part shade with medium moisture, and is listed for USDA zones 3-9.
Varieties
1 · sorted by days to maturity▸Bocking 14
PROPAGATION CATEGORY: Perennial root (not currently in seed catalog). Use: Permaculture mulch/compost & traditional medicinal (topical). Harvest: Cut leaves several times per season for mulch or compost tea.
Comfrey (Symphytum × uplandicum, Russian comfrey) is a vigorous deep-rooted perennial prized in permaculture as a nutrient accumulator for mulch and compost tea, and traditionally used as a topical medicinal. Propagated from root cuttings; the sterile 'Bocking 14' cultivar won't self-seed and spread. Hardy zones 3-9.
Growing notes: Botanical name: Symphytum × uplandicum|Hardiness zones: 3-9|Propagation: root cuttings/division|Sun needs: Full sun to part shade|Water needs: Medium|Mature height: 2-4 feet|Spacing: 30 inches|Harvest: Cut leaves several times per season for mulch or compost tea
Plan your comfrey planting
Add comfrey to a free GardenDraft plan and get sow, transplant, and harvest dates computed for your ZIP code — with a drag-and-drop bed layout and reminders when it’s time to plant.
Start your free plan →At a glance
Storing & preserving
Refrigerate stems in water, or wrap in a damp towel for a few days.
- Dry: Dehydrate or air-dry, then store airtight away from light.
- Freeze: Freeze chopped in oil or water in ice-cube trays.
General home-preservation guidance — for tested processing times and safety, follow the National Center for Home Food Preservation.
Growing timeline
Care & troubleshooting— extension-sourced, with citations
When to feed, prune & water
Attract beneficial insects and protect pollinators
Protection- Routine carePlant insectary flowers and tolerate light pestsstrong evidence — extension confidence
Grow a diversity of flowering plants (including small-flowered umbels and asters) to feed predators and parasitoids, and tolerate low pest numbers so natural enemies have prey to stick around.
- Routine careNever spray open bloomsstrong evidence — extension confidence
Avoid insecticides on flowering plants and apply any needed sprays in the evening when pollinators aren't active, and favor selective products over broad-spectrum ones to spare bees and beneficials.
Something looks wrong?
Describe what you see on your comfreyand we'll rank the likely causes — most likely first, least-invasive fix first.
Powdery mildew
Diseasemoderate- CulturalImprove airflow + remove worst leavesstrong evidence — extension confidence
Cut out the most heavily coated leaves and thin for airflow; avoid wetting foliage late in the day.
- OrganicPotassium-bicarbonate or sulfur - label use only· every 1 wk · ~4 wksmoderate evidence — extension confidence
Apply a labeled potassium-bicarbonate or sulfur fungicide weekly per the label. No sulfur within 2 weeks of oil or in high heat.
Aphids
Pestlow- CulturalBlast off with water· every 3 days · ~2 wksstrong evidence — extension confidence
Knock colonies off with a strong jet of water in the morning; repeat every few days. Light infestations rarely need more.
- OrganicInsecticidal soap - label use only· every 1 wk · ~3 wksmoderate evidence — extension confidence
For persistent colonies apply insecticidal soap to undersides per label. Avoid open flowers.