Borraginacées • Symphytum officinale

Comfrey - Organic

"A generous perennial that nourishes the soil as much as the gardener."

From $10.00

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Long present in country gardens, common comfrey establishes itself as a faithful companion in edible spaces. Its broad, rough foliage quickly forms a dense clump that covers the ground, while its arching flower stalks are adorned with small, bell-shaped clusters, which are appreciated by insects.

Hardy and tenacious, this perennial thrives in deep, cool soils where it develops strong roots. In a garden in harmony with the seasons, it offers a welcoming presence: it is primarily cultivated for its uses in organic gardening (green mulch, homemade fertilizer) and certain traditional purposes. It naturally finds its place in a quiet corner of the garden or in the orchard, where it discreetly complements the work of the attentive gardener.

  • Growing climate: Cool season
  • Sowing difficulty level: Difficult (sowing is possible but often unpredictable; division is more common)
  • Care required: Occasional
  • Growth: Rapid growth

Annotation: A very hardy perennial that establishes itself permanently where the soil is deep and cool.

Common comfrey is traditionally known for its medicinal uses and as a useful garden plant. Some sources mention ancient culinary uses (cooked young leaves, fritters), but these are now generally discouraged due to the presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids.

In the garden, it is primarily valued for its regularly cut leaves, which are used as mulch or incorporated into preparations such as liquid manure or fermented extracts. These traditional uses help nourish the soil and support fertility based on organic matter.

Comfrey - Organic

From $10.00

From $10.00

écoumene seeding advice

Seeding type

Indoor and outdoor seeding

Germination time

14-30 days

Germination temperature

15° to 20° Celsius

Sowing depth

Sow seeds 1-2 cm deep

Transplantation

Easy transplantation

Technical

Row sowing

Growing conditions

Hardiness zone

Zone-3a

Distance between plants

100 cm

Distance between rows

120 cm

Optimal brightness

Sun plant that tolerates light shade

Soil texture

Plante adaptable aux sols

Soil moisture

Cool, well-drained soil

Soil fertility

Plant not very demanding in fungi-dominant compost

optimal soil pH

Low acidic pH

Average plant height

100 cm

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