Description

Comfrey

Symphytum officinale. A bushy perennial  which has bristly, spear-shaped leaves and pink/lilac blue flowers which hang in clusters like bells. The leaves make an excellent potash fertiliser for tomatoes and potatoes, they are cut and put into a tub with water to make a very nutritious feed for all garden plants since it fixes many nutrients and trace elements through its growth. Young leaves can be cooked like spinach or asparagus – but don’t eat the old leaves. When used as a poultice it helps stimulate new cell growth, repairs tissue and cartilage. It has anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal properties and is good for helping bruises, cuts, sores, sprains and over-strained muscles.

Grow in sun or shade in moist soils, it will grow in clay soils, it can be invasive. It will reach a height of 1-1.5m.