The Question of Comfrey
I often get asked 'Which is the real Comfrey'? Here's an answer...
'True (or Common) Comfrey' (Symphytum officinale) is a common herb in Europe. The other common variety is 'Russian Comfrey' (Symphytum x uplandicum) in many cases. This is, in turn, a hybrid of two varieties - that's what the 'x' in its taxonomic name means.
'True Comfrey' will seed prolifically, while the 'Russian Comfrey' we often buy as Comfrey is a sterile hybrid but is far more vigorous and will only grow from root propagation.
Our 'True' Comfrey has white to pink flowers, while Russian Comfrey has blue to purple flowers. Of course, 'True Comfrey' has a red/purple variety, just to make it all the more confusing.
If you want to know which variety you have, wait until it flowers. That's the easiest way. If you have a chance to hold a flower of True Comfrey next to a flower of Russian Comfrey, the True Comfrey will have the longer lobes on the sepals (they're the little green petals under the true petals in a flower). Otherwise, True Comfrey has white to pink flowers and more of a stem at the bottom of the leaves.
But is it worth all the fuss? Probably not.
Purists will only accept S .officinale for medicinal use and S. x uplandicum for feeding animals and providing biomass, but thats probably because S.x uplandicum is far more vigorous and grows faster.
In reality, there are more than 30 species in Europe that are all called 'Comfrey' and have been used interchangably over many, many years, even before they were introduced to the US in the 1700's.
Whichever you have, there was an Herbalist named Gerard who recommended the juice of comfrey root in ale for 'the paine in the back gotten by wrestling, or overuse of women.'
Use what you've got, I say!
Thank you for sorting this out. We have it growing on our homestead too and was also conflicted with the two types hard to get info on them when they are different. Thanks
Glad it helped. The general guideline is officinale for medicine, uplandicum for fodder and compost. Both work in either role, but the uplandicum is far more vigorous a growrr and thus better in the role of land and stock management
nice
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Very interesting 👌
that was quick! thanks!
Wow, interesting!
Good grief. I grow some comfrey from sees an older neighbor gave me. Now I'm really confused and haven't any idea which one I have, haha. It's ok though. I make good us of it and it has become a cherished plant in the homestead.
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Darn those pains in the back! Must stop wrestling! 😆
yeah...its a curse
Most useful article - I had been wondering about the difference between the two types.
I tried growing some Comfrey from seed this year but it didn't work. I will try again next year and maybe buy in a few plants if I spot them.
Thank you. Yeah, all the comfreys do better by root cuttings
It doesn't make a huge difference for home use. People have been using most of the species for years, all under the name 'Comfrey'