Why you should grow comfrey
Symphytum uplandicum 'Bocking 14'
If you’ve followed along on any of my social media accounts, it’s honestly amazing that I haven’t yet made an official blog post about comfrey. I talk about it’s amazing benefits ALL…THE…TIME. I believe it has been an absolute game-changer for my garden and for the way I’m able to feed my rabbits and birds.
Comfrey is a nutrient mining (dynamic accumulator), compost activating super plant. Dynamic accumulators mine nutrients from the soil and store them in their leaves and tissues, making them extremely bioavailable. Other dynamic accumulators include stinging nettles, yarrow and dandelion, but comfrey’s deep taproot and huge leaves allows it to pull up significant quantities.
• A unique trait of comfrey is that it also distributes nutrients into surrounding plants and soil. As it draws up micronutrients for itself, it shares with whatever plants are in it’s vicinity. Planting comfrey in raised beds, borders, near your compost pile, or around favorite trees and shrubs allow it to automatically serve as slow-release fertilizer.
• Comfrey produces lots of large leaves that can be used as fertilizer in various ways. Leaves can be tucked into new plant holes, mulched right into soil or soaked in water for a fertilizer concentrate (compost tea).
• As opposed to other beneficial dynamic accumulators that may only be harvested once or twice per season, comfrey grows incredibly fast and quickly gets 3-4’ tall. Leaves from mature plants can be harvested and used many times per season!
• Comfrey can be easily harvested to dry and dehydrate for many uses. Comfrey is popular in oil tinctures, salves for wound healing, or even just to feed to animals throughout the winter months.
• If you have any livestock or small animals, comfrey is an extremely beneficial fodder. Not does it have a naturally high nutrient content as a green leaf, but comfrey leaves offer around 16% protein content, so they are filling! Rabbits and chickens absolutely love the taste and I also like to add a few leaves when we ferment our bird feed for added nutrition.
• Comfrey produces gorgeous bell-shaped, pollinator-friendly purple flowers.
In our area, comfrey plants are not all that easy to get ahold of. I have no idea why! My Symphytum uplandicum 'Bocking 14' comfrey roots came from Etsy a few years ago and took off well, but I’m always trying to obtain and propgate more. It is important to note that Bocking 14 variant (Russian Comfrey) is NOT invasive, but other varieties (Common Comfrey, Symphytum Officinale) are incredibly invasive by self-seeding. Bocking 14 seeds are sterile but root cuttings as little as 1” will produce new plants.
I’m constantly working on creating baby comfrey plants from roots to sell! I have an ongoing waitlist depending on the season. Pricing varies based on root or crown cuttings + plant size, but I’m happy to share when they’re available. Hop on the waitlist if you’re ready to get started!
