Common comfrey - Symphytum officinale

Description and Uses

Symphytum officinale (Common comfrey) is a temperate plant from North West Europe. It is mainly grown for its multipurpose crops (short shelflife), but also

can be produced. The crop is harvested by pruning. It starts flowering after 0 - 2 years. The first yield will be 0.1 kg/plant DM but in its top season there will be a yield of 0.5 kg/plant DM.

. Medical uses include;

The powdered leaf contains inulin ( - ). There is comfrey oil extracted by steam distillation from the plant`s flower yielding 3 - 4% oil. Regarding firewood production the plant`s growing speed is fast, its energetic value is 4000 ckal/kg and the wood`s drying speed is slow; for firewood production it is not ideal. After 1 years the plant can be totally removed as it reached its commercial and ecological goal. Symphytum officinale has a lifespan of 5 years.

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Environmental limitations

The plant is 1 meters tall. It is fast growing and tolerates not less light than partial shade. Symphytum officinale has a deep root-system and forms symbiotic relations

(endo-mycorrhiza). It is not able to fix nitrogen. The plant`s flower-morphology is hermaphroditic and is pollinated by bumble bees. Symphytum officinale is deciduous in winter and not allelopathic and has no thorns.

Symphytum officinale thrives in an altitude of 500 to 4000 meters above sea-level (temperate). The minimum temperature is 0°C and optimally between 10 - 25°C. The optimal rainfall is 1650 mm/year. Without irrigation the annual rainfall should be between 900 - 1500 mm (L/m²). The optimal soil-pH is between 7.0 - 8.0 in a soil texture of loam. To salt it is a bit tolerant to wind a bit tolerant and to fire intolerant.

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Pests and Diseases

and

diseases.

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Seed Propagation

Seeds are stratificant and can be stored for 8 months. Unfortunately propagation instruction is missing.

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