Symphytum
The Comfreys
There are about twenty accepted species of Symphytum, of which about ten or so and numerous named cultivars are grown in gardens.
Members of the borage family, Boraginaceae, they range from the fairly weedy herb, S. officinalis to outstanding clones who are either work horses of the shady garden or prima donnas for that special spot.
Not So Ornamental
Symphytum officinale is the common herb, grown for centuries in gardens for its medicinal properties. Physician and herbalist Nicholas Culpeper (1616-1654) claimed that it
"is said to be so powerful to consolidate and knit together, that if they be boiled with dissevered pieces of flesh in a pot, it will join them together".Hearsay was rampant even then as he, obviously, never tried this himself. Over the centuries, it's acquired a good list of common names, most indicative of its healing assets:
| knitbone boneset healing herb backwort bruisewort consolida |
knitback consound slippery root gum plant boneset asses-ears |
In addition to several common names, there are several synonyms: S. officinale subsp. officinale, S. bohemicum subsp. bohemicum (or its synonym, S. bohemicum), S. officinale subsp. uliginosum (and its synonym, S.uliginosum) and S. molle.
Native to Europe and Asia it is rated hardy from USDA zones 3 to 9 and naturalized in much of the US, where it's often considered a rather pernicious weed because any bit of the usually branched, thick, brittle, tap root will create another plant and it also seeds around; the seed germinating rapidly, especially on damp, peaty or loam soils.
While the typical borage family flowers bloom from May through most of the summer, they are not enough to redeem it for ornamental use, in my opinion. I grew it many years ago and found it lacking in interest and flavor. I tried eating the young leaves both cooked and raw and was most unimpressed. It does make good compost.
If you are involved in things herbal, you will probably want to grow this plant, since it's a staple of medicinal herb gardens. As for horseradish, put it where you want it because you won't easily get rid of it. It thrives in fertile garden soils but will grow in about any conditions except extreme shade. It's typically found in moist soils in open sites, waste places, fields, ditches and abandoned gardens.
While fragments of root can generate new plants, if you find yourself in a situation where these weedy comfreys are already established, repeated cultivation will eventually eliminate it, especially if timed before seeds ripen. Mowing before seed ripens will also help control it.
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