Comfrey, Russian Root Crown Cutting (Bocking 14 Cultivar), organic
$5.00 – $340.90
PLANTING TIME: The 2 best times to plant comfrey are: spring and fall. As soon as the soil can be worked in the spring, the roots may be planted. This works out to March to April for the warmer zones 7 to 9 and May to June for the colder zones 3 to 6. Alternatively, the roots may be planted in the fall, at least 6 weeks before first frost.
PLEASE NOTE: Russian comfrey root crown cuttings are shipped year ’round. When you order them, you can expect to receive your roots via us mail about 2 weeks from the order date. If you require a different shipping window, please let us know by using the “order comments” field at checkout. If you receive the roots and planting must be delayed, you can refrigerate in the same packaging you received them in, for up to 2 weeks. If the root begins to sprout, cut off the sprouts before planting. When planted in the garden or in a large pot by completely covering the root crown cutting with soil, these will grow for anyone, any time.
Family: Borage (Boraginacea)
Hardy in Zones 4 to 8
Herbaceous perennial flowering to 3 feet, a hybrid of Russian Symphytum asperum and European Symphytum officinalis. Bocking 14 cultivar of Russian Comfrey (Symphytum x uplandicum). Sterile hybrid does not make seeds.
Uses: Comfrey is commonly used in permaculture as a companion plant to fruit trees. In the nursery, we have great results making the fresh leaves into biodynamic tea, which we apply to our plants in a pot to increase vitality, growth, and to green up all those leaves! Excellent ingredient for compost piles–fresh leaves compost fast and make a nitrogen-rich compost! Fresh, rubbed leaves fed to ruminants, pigs and chickens to increase health and as a protein-rich nutrient dense feed. Traditional usage of fresh or dried leaves or roots (TWM): used externally to speed healing. Source of cell-proliferating molecule alantoin.
What is a root crown cutting? A chunk of the crown of the plant (the blocky part above the taproots), often with a piece of the taproot attached. Size is variable. We give generous cuttings, from 2 to 6 inches long, generally as big around as your thumb, often larger, sometimes smaller–a mix. These are the SAME CUTTINGS that we use for replanting our own fields, and horticulturally speaking, this is the best size and shape to replant in order to get fast results. This is NOT just a piece of the taproot, which generally takes longer to grow to a full sized plant than the more desirable crown cutting.
How to plant: Space the plants at least 2 feet apart. Comfrey prefers rich soil of medium moisture in the sun to part shade. It is a heavy feeder and will reach monumental size if given composted manure under the cutting at transplant and/or around the crown of the plant during the growth cycle. To plant the cutting, prepare a weed-free area of 1 foot square, fertilize the spot with compost, then bury the cutting in the center of that spot, completely covering the cutting with soil to the depth of 1 or 2 inches. Do not leave the cutting exposed–let it sprout spontaneously up through the soil. This will take about 2 weeks–you will see the bright green leaves emerging.
How to care for comfrey plants: Keep the planting reasonably well watered. It works very nicely to mulch the plant with straw, other high-carbon mulch, or even its own leaves, cut from the plant and laid back down around the crown. This is the standard way to take care of comfrey–when it finishes flowering and starts to keel over, cut it down and use the leaves for any of the multitude of applications comfrey leaves are good for, or simply lay the leaves back down on the crown of the plant and let it grow back through its own mulch. In the temperate zone, this cycle usually occurs 2 or three times per summer. The only way to get rid of comfrey is to stop watering it and let the plant dry out, or to drown the plant in water. Otherwise, the plant will stay put where you plant it, unless you dig through it or rototill or plow the area, in which case new plants will come up from root fragments wherever they are deposited. Many people plant comfrey in the orchard, as it brings up minerals from deep within the earth that are good for fruit trees, and because it nourishes the trees with its fallen and composted leaves. The above directions are suitable for comfrey culture in orchards, and traditionally at least one plant is planted per tree. You can mow over the plants if necessary–they will re-emerge.
For more information on use of comfrey in the home garden and for use of comfrey in herbal medicine, including appropriate directions for safe usage in home health care, please read “Growing Plant Medicine” and “Making Plant Medicine.”
Root Crown Cutting, certified organically grown
Bethany Patrick (verified owner) –
I wasn’t sure how these would do in the summer in zone 10a, so I only ordered 6 cuttings. I planted them in the heat of summer (early August), which I know isn’t the recommendation. All the cuttings sprouted. I did water them regularly. We did get some days over 100 degrees (F). There was some minor burning to the edges of some leaves, but otherwise the plants did pretty well. Now that the temps are getting cooler the plants have exploded in size! They’re looking very healthy! I just placed another order. My plan is to create a border between my garden beds and the rest of my yard to prevent grass from creeping into the garden area (which is heavily mulched with wood chips). I would also like to start making comfrey tea to fertilize my garden with. Down the road I’d like to also plant some under my fruit trees, but I’m trying not to overwhelm myself with too much at once. I’ll definitely be ordering more in the future 🙂
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Kelly_greene farm –
Plants came in good shape!
Planted and are rapidly growing
I’m very happy with everything I purchased
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lsullivan667 (verified owner) –
Grows beautifully and makes great compost and ‘tea’ for my plants. Admired by friends when they visit my garden, too!
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Ginger –
sounds amazing, looking forward to receiving I am in Arkansas ( in the Ozarks) zone 7a is it ok to plant in January/February or should I wait
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Angela Turner –
Have ordered comfrey from other people before. There is no comparison in the quality. These are huge and very healthy. Will definitely be ordering more!!!
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deenaclass (verified owner) –
I just ordered two of these and holy moly! Richo isn’t joking- huge difference between a root cutting and a crown! Each of these immediately burst up with three distinct “plants” per crown and they’re big and established after one week. (One crown is in a container, the other in a raised bed)
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r7fabians (verified owner) –
I received my order EXACTLY how I requested it! It was such a blessing to have everyone there take the time to help me and get my order out so efficiently. Thank you very much and I will continue to share your site with anyone interested in your products. Have a blessed day. Joanne
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Kelly S (verified owner) –
Planted in dappled area in DFW/Ft Worth where it gets shade about 1/2 the day. Everything else is dying in our crazy heat wave, but the comfrey seems happy as a clam. I can’t believe it. There is a drip line in the bed, but several feet away from the comfrey.
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Nick (verified owner) –
I planted over 20 crowns this March 2022, buried some in a few inches of loose soil, pressed some into barely even a shovel slit just to try for faster planting….put some wood chips on top and walked away.
Every single one came up and is doing great.
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Beth (verified owner) –
Incredible plants. I recieved these last spring (2021) abused them terribly by leaving them in their box for too long. Planted anyways and the were up and vigorously growing in no time. Huge comfrey plants from these and this spring (2022) every single one is up and going already (May Zone 3). Fantastic. 10 stars.
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Kelly A. (verified owner) –
Great healthy cuttings! Growing strong and healthy, and flowering already!!!
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dddi (verified owner) –
All of the cuttings came up and are growing well.
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JR (verified owner) –
I ordered 6 crown cuttings. They got here fast and packaged very well. All 6 are growing nicely. Great product and service!!
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lazywildswan (verified owner) –
These folks have the best plants, roots, and seeds! The plants are extraordinarily strong and healthy. We have used this mail order service for years.
When the root arrived, I opened the bag after a few days, decided to give it some water, but I left it on the table because it was snowy outside. Now it has grown 5″ in several days….now what should I do? Richo, should I plant it outdoors on a warm day? Or will that harm it because it has grown leaves already? Or pot it inside? I forgot to ask, can I cook comfrey leaves for eating? I actually got the root for soil improvement.
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Steve –
When I first started growing russian comfrey several years ago here in north Texas, I planted it in full sun. The first summer killed them, no matter how much I watered them. So, I tried planting more crowns the next year on the north side of my home which never gets sun. They thrived right through the summer. Full shade didn’t seem to bother them. I will be planting more this year in other areas to see how they do. Maybe an area of dappled sunlight? Thank you Richo for supplying excellent crowns and sharing your knowledge and experiences with us.
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Crissy Crutchfield (verified owner) –
I received healthy and beautiful crown cuttings! They started sending up leaves within days of being planted! Strictly medicinal has my business!
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Christine –
I’m new to comfrey and was really happy with how easy it was to plant and have them sprout. They’re growing well and I plan to order more!
I do have one question – I live in San Antonio and though it’s warm most months, it does get ridiculously cold here in the winter. Do I need to cover them in the winter months?
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Karen –
When I received my order I planted them in nursery pots awaiting good weather — we’re in the foothills of the Cascade mountains and still had snow on the ground. Within a month all of the plants had clusters of 8″ leaves and looked terrific. I have not received such good quality plants when ordering from other companies. I’m very pleased and will order again.
Update August 2022:
I continue to be amazed !!!
The plants wintered-over in great health; even after below zero temperatures and several feet of snow.
This spring they took off and went up to monstrous, bushy, 5′ tall plants. I cut them back and incorporated the cuttings into my garden soil. Now, the plants are growing back and look terrific again.
One note of caution: if you add fertilizer, be sure you are standing well back because they will take off like Jack’s beanstalk!!!
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William Doehring (verified owner) –
Ordered 20 cuttings, and actually received 22.. They all arrived in good packaging. I opened the day I received them and planted them in small pots, indoors. We are in Zone 4a, and still had snow and frozen ground when they arrived. Within the last week and a half, all but two have started to come up…making 20 successful plants, which is what I ordered and was hoping for. I am still holding out to see if the last two will push through. Either way, I am very happy with the service and roots I have received. I will definitely be buying more plants from you in the future. Thank you.
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GardenGal (verified owner) –
I ordered 20 root crown cutting and am very pleased with the health and size of the crowns. Planted immediately and all but one came up within a week! The last one just seemed to lag a bit but has now officially sprouted and appears to be doing fine. Actually, I received 21 cuttings and thought that was a nice touch on their part for that “just in case”. I will definitely be ordering from Strictly Medicinal Seeds again. Thank you!
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Logan King (verified owner) –
Hefty cuttings of some really healthy comfrey. They arrived swiftly, and during the freaking covid outbreak. These people do great work.
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Anila Nair (verified owner) –
I’m happy with the excellent root crown cuttings I received. They were all big chunky pieces and I planted them immediately and within a few days have started sprouting leaves. Really really happy with this purchase.
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Julie Preston (verified owner) –
Planted roots were up within one week of planting. Had a couple of spares that I potted up for gifting. Superb shipping. Love the packing material. Recycle or reuse. The nursery pots will come In handy later. Thank you!
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Jean Mitchell (verified owner) –
I live in Portland, Oregon and a few years ago I purchased the Bocking 14 Comfrey from Strictly Medicinal Seeds. Planted the root as directed and waited for the first sign of life breaking soil. Sure enough within about 2 week it broke through, I was so excited because I have never grown Comfrey before. I love it and use it in my garden as a soil booster. It is the end of April and my plant is full and beautiful after a mild but wet winter. Everyone should have Comfrey in their gardens, the bees love it as do my plants and veggies.
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SapperGardener –
We bought 6 of these and all grew well. So well in fact we probably could have bought less, as we have successfully been splitting them each of the last two years. They are great for our fruit trees and chickens!
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betsy –
The bees love it. The deer poke their noses through the garden fence for snacks. I can chop at it indiscriminately and it grows back with the attitude of ‘is that all you got?’ And yes, be sure you put it where you want it the first time. One tiny bit of missed root during a dig out will make a new massive plant very quickly causing your significant other to ask ‘how many of these guys do we really need?’
I make a comfrey/plantain salve with it every spring. I love it.
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