Comfrey, True (Symphytum officinale var patens), packet of 20 seeds, organic
$4.95
Family: Borage (Boraginaceae)
Hardy to Zones 3 to 9
(True Comfrey) (Symphytum officinalis) Herbaceous perennial native to Europe. There is a white/cream flowered type and a purple flowered type. This is the purple flowered type. The plant grows true from seed. Traditional usage (TWM): Cell proliferation, cuts, scrapes, deep injuries. Source of cell-proliferating allantoin, immunotonic mucopolysaccharides and also potentially toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Often recommended for external use only. Commonly employed as a companion plant to orchard trees and as an ingredient in compost tea and compost piles. High in protein, the leaves make a good feed for chickens and pigs, may be added to the feed of all domestic animals, helping maintain good health and weight gain. Comfrey prefers a full to part sun position with rich, moist, but well-drained soil. Sow the seed just under the surface and tamp in securely. Sown directly in warm soils, germination usually occurs within 30 days. A 30 day period of cold, moist refrigeration followed by planting in warm conditions will speed germination appreciably. Grow the seedlings out in pots for about 3 months, then transplant to the garden. You can also direct-seed into a fertile bed in the spring, as soon as the soil can be worked. If you don’t want the plants to spread, then cut them back when they make flowers, and mulch the crowns with the leaves. This will keep the seed from maturing and dropping, and will quickly improve the soil and contribute to the formation of large, healthy and happy plants.
20 seeds/pkt., Certified Organically Grown
In stock
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Mary –
I had ordered this seed a few years ago, but just decided to try it. It germinated just fine, and is growing like crazy in the greenhouse. I keep having to transplant seedlings to bigger pots. I’m not sure where to plant it, though. How much will it spread? I am in western Maine…
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Richo Cech –
Hi Mary,
Thanks for your note and your vote. Most of us plant the comfrey under fruit trees. If the plant is growing in the grass and you mow it, then it will not spread. If you rototill through it or let it go to seed it will spread.
Richo
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Timothy Ritchey (verified owner) –
I love growing Comfrey in my yard in Arizona (which is difficult in July and August). I also love growing it in my little yard in Idaho. I make the leaves into salves and tinctures to give to friends.And it is so generous in giving more and more leaves. To quote a great person, “Comfrey is not invasive, people are invasive!”. Thank you, Thank you. Thank you!
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Young gardener (verified owner) –
Hi there, I have germinated and grown the True Comfrey seeds successfully in the 1-gallon pots that I bought from you, but I don’t have much space to transplant them. Is it possible to grow True Comfrey in 20-gallon pots permanently or for a little while? What is the smallest size pot can Comfrey be grown in? Do you have any suggestions?
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Richo Cech –
Hi! Good work on the true comfrey. It is true that comfrey grows tired of growing in a pot after awhile. The bigger the pot, the happier the plant. If it can get its root through a drain hole into real dirt it will be fine forever. Otherwise a minimum size 3-gallon should do for a year or two. you can feed it compost… r
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Question
Angie –
I am wanting to order your comfrey seed. I live in Spain and can’t find it here. My sister is coming from the US in a month and she will bring them to me in late May. Should I keep the seed dry or start the moist refrigeration process right away. They would need to stay refrigerated all through my hot dry summer, and the started in the fall? My winters are quite mild with only occasional freezes and low temperatures rarely below 20F. Please advise best way for me to proceed for a success. I have been wanting comfrey in my garden for a very long time and am very excited at the prospect. Also ordering giant fennel, with similar concerns about timing considerations. Thanks for any help!
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Richo Cech –
Hi Angie, Thanks for getting in touch. The true comfrey can be put in the refrigerator in moist medium (sand, potting soil, etc, not paper towels) as soon as you get it. Since the season is progressing, just give it a couple of days that way, then take it out and plant it. Even this short prechill is very helpful. Barely cover, keep moist and it will come up within a week or two. You can do the same with the giant anise fennel, but germination will take longer. Don’t give up, it will come up, Richo
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angie-1470 –
Thank You!
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Question
K Ma –
On these pictures of them sprouting, the leaves look considerably different from full grown leaves. Are these like pepper plants where the first leaves called cotyledons look different than the true leaves?
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Richo Cech –
Hello KMa, Thanks for getting in touch, Yes, the first leaves of a comfrey seedling are cotyledon leaves that differ significantly in form from the true leaves. There are lots of photos in the galleries to give you a feel for what the mature plants look like. All the best, Richo
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K Ma –
Thanks Richo, how long after the cotyledon leaves do the true leaves form? I bought what was supposed to be true Comfrey seeds from Amzn and after reading several reviews stating the seeds were actually borage and then seeing my sprouts having round leaves I wrote this off as not being comfrey. But my sprouts look similar to the pics of sprouts on your gallery. so maybe they are real, time will tell. Either way i bought 2 packs from you. I have Bocking 4 and 14 so I’m only familiar with those varieties and leaf shapes.
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Richo Cech –
Hi Kma, Borage and comfrey are similarly sized seeds (actually borage is somewhat larger) both in the family Boraginaceae. It is difficult to identify them in the very early stages of growth. The true leaves form within 2 weeks of the cotyledon leaves. Here’s a video on comfrey identification which will help you https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leDCPFLQAAg
richo
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Anastacia Cilione (verified owner) –
Germinated easily after 30 days and now growing effortlessly in my garden. Currently making compost tea now 🍵 😊
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Kristin –
Can I broadcast these seeds in June in zone 6b? Or is it too late in the season?
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Richo Cech –
Hi Kristin,
Thanks for contacting. Careful culture will give best results on these relatively slow germinators. They do best when given a bit of cool moist pretreatment, too.
would suggest to put them in the fridge in moist medium for a week or so to soften up, then plant in a pot and tamp it well. You can put the plants to the garden after they size up. richo
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anthonyaielloo –
Hey Anthony writing here
For this seed pack would most of these plants do well in zone 11 but at 1000ft ish elevation? 60-70s in the evening…Mid-High80s in the day time sometimes 90s
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Richo Cech –
Hello Anthony, Thanks for writing. Zone 11 is pretty warm for comfrey but if you want to choose a comfrey for warmer zones then true comfrey (Symphytum officinale) is better than russian comfrey in terms of heat tolerance. Elevation is certainly helpful as would be shade and a moist soil. Richo
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Christine Chandler –
Hi, I have a yard my brother won’t let me plant multiplying plants into. However, the back six acres is sparse woodland of one or two ancient oaks, some locust and poplars with a stream running through it. MD, so very rocky, clay soil. I’m looking to improve my composting abilities. Could this plant be direct seeded in the area described?
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Richo Cech –
hi christine, yes, it could be done, with a reasonable expectation of success. Scalp a spot, work up the soil a bit, sprinkle in the seeds and mulch with coir. do that in the early spring. results can be expected. r
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Tendai Kurangwa –
Do you deliver to South Africa
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Richo Cech –
Hello Tendai, If you can order, we will send, and we cannot guarantee receipt. richo
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Question
Kristy –
I had no idea there was any toxicity in this plant until I googled its growth habits. I just received seeds and am starting my own medicinal garden. I use comfrey with plantain and calendula often for a salve. We use it all the time for cracked skin, bruises, scrapes you name it! Should I remove it from my salve? Our usage of it extends way beyond the 10 day period the powers that be suggest. We have no livestock. I am growing it strictly for my salves ect. Can you advise ? Thanks! 🙂
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Richo Cech –
Hi Kristy,
The powers that be misguide egregiously on Symphytum. Herbalists have been using the plant safely for thousands of years. There is no concern for external usage–if you remove it from your salve, your salve will suffer.
Richo
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michelle –
I have a comfrey plant deep purple flowers not the light blue you reference as cynoglossom. is the deep purple flower a comfrey or borage? does the borage offer same medicinal properties? I also use it in a salve with aloe and raw honey, it draws and heals but now i’m not sure what i have borage or comfrey?
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Richo Cech –
hi there, the deep blue flowers are comfrey, not borage. we don’t sell cynoglossum–that is hound’s tongue. richo
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hend3627 (verified owner) –
Purchased these seeds and very happy with the amount of comfrey I have now. Ended up sharing many of the plants with family and friends and I still have several in my front and back yards. Very excited for this turnout and very happy with the product.
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