Comfrey

Comfrey  (Symphytum)

Comfrey (Symphytum) has thick root stocks, hairy foliage and tube-shaped flowers. They grow fast and are perfect plants to suppress weeds in difficult places. If you do not wish them to spread too much, just install a root barrier. Comfrey likes a spot in the half shade and moist soil, but really is not fussy at all. If in the full sunshine the plant will need more moisture. If you want to (re)move Comfrey, make sure you remove all the bits of the roots as they will just grow again. If the foliage get a bit ugly through the summer, just cut the plant well back. Add a hand full of compost, water, and the plant will soon shoot again. Comfrey look best in a natural planting or alongside a pond or forest edge. Plant Comfrey next to strong plants such as Leopard Plant (Ligularia), Baneberry (Actaea), White Wood Aster (Aster divaricatus) and Goat's Beard (Aruncus).