Botanical Name: symphytum officinale
Some other names: Knitbone, Boneset, Woundwort, Bruisewort
How to Grow It
Comfrey is a hardy perennial herb that grows into a dense clump up to 60–120 cm tall, with broad, hairy leaves and purple, pink, or blue bell‑like flowers. Once you plant it, it’s there for good – which is why it pays to think carefully about where you want it.
Native to Europe and Asia, comfrey thrives in cool to temperate climates but will also grow in subtropical areas. It tolerates almost anything: drought, poor soil, full sun, partial shade, even patches where nothing else wants to grow.
Comfrey’s deep taproots mine water and minerals from far below the surface, making it a self‑feeding plant. I’ve never really fertilised mine (aside from the occasional seaweed spray) and it still grows like mad.
Propagation couldn’t be easier: break off a root, cut it into 2 cm pieces, and plant them sideways – almost every piece will strike. A single plant will easily give rise to dozens more.
Comfrey grows happily in pots, though it stays smaller and less productive than in open ground.
Herbal & Nutrient Value
Comfrey is a nutrient powerhouse. The leaves are loaded with vitamins A, B, C & E, plus potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and a range of trace minerals. These nutrients don’t just make it valuable in the garden – they’re also the reason it’s been used for centuries as a healing herb.
Historically, comfrey was used internally for everything from arthritis and asthma to digestive issues and even cancer, and externally for broken bones, bruises, sprains, and wounds (earning it the name “knitbone”).
Modern science has since discovered that comfrey contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), which can damage the liver in high doses. Because of this, it’s now banned for internal use in many countries.
That said, there’s little evidence of harm from traditional use, and many gardeners (myself included) still swear by external use: poultices, salves, and creams made from comfrey can dramatically speed up wound healing, ease pain, and calm rashes. I’m comfortable eating a couple of leaves a day in my smoothie for general healing benefits.
Traditional & Home Remedies
Comfrey Poultice – Fresh leaves bruised or blended, applied to sprains or bruises.
Comfrey Salve – Leaves or roots infused in oil, thickened with beeswax for topical ointment.
Comfrey Compress – Cloth soaked in strong comfrey tea, wrapped around swollen joints.
Comfrey Root Paste – Root mashed with warm water, applied to fractures (folk remedy).
Using It in the Kitchen
Comfrey is banned for internal use in many countries, and I can’t recommend eating it – but you can research the history and make up your own mind.
Traditionally, young leaves were occasionally used as a cooked green or added to soups, but it’s certainly not one of the tastiest greens
Instead, think of comfrey as a plant for your garden and medicine chest rather than your dinner plate.
Other Uses
Comfrey’s usefulness doesn’t stop at medicine. In fact, even if you never use it on your skin, it might still be the most valuable plant in your garden.
Its deep roots pull up nutrients other plants can’t reach, and the huge leaves can be chopped again and again for mulch– rich in nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. You can soak the leaves in water for a week to make a potent liquid fertiliser, or add them to the compost heap as an activator to speed things up.
Comfrey is also excellent animal fodder – chooks, goats, and other livestock love it, and those nutrients end up in their eggs, milk, or manure.
Why it’s a survival plant:
Unkillable, multi‑purpose, and endlessly productive. It feeds the garden, feeds the animals, and has been healing people for centuries – all from one tough little clump.
