Symphytum officinale, commonly known as comfrey, boneset, or knitbone, is a large, bulbous, thick, tufted perennial (up to 3′ tall and 2.5′ wide). It is now mainly cultivated as an ornamental plant for its foliage and attractive spring flowers.
The large, hairy, pointed, oval-lance-shaped, deep green basal leaves grow up to 8″ long. Upper leaves are deciduous and smaller than basal leaves.
The tubular, flower-like snowdrops, white to purple to pink, appear in pendulous clusters from mid-spring to early summer.
Comfrey has been grown as a medicinal herb since 400 B. C. The plant was first imported to the United States for medicinal purposes in the 17th century by immigrants.
Over time, comfrey has developed Naturalized along roadsides and in badlands in the United States.
The genus Symphytum belongs to the Boraginaceae family and includes about 35 species[1]. It’s native to Europe, growing in grassy and damp places.
