Symphytum officinale

The Common Comfrey, in Latin Symphytum officinale, has been known since ancient times as a medicinal plant, with countless virtues: in cooking, natural pharmacy, but especially in the garden as a fertilizer and phyto-stimulant liquid manure. It can be sown in spring and autumn, but ideally from March to June.

Also known as Greater Comfrey, Donkey's Ear, or Cow's Tongue, the Common Comfrey belongs, like Borage, to the Boraginaceae family. It is a perennial herbaceous plant native to Europe and Western Asia, which benefits from great hardiness and can withstand negative temperatures down to -30°C (-22°F).

The Greater Comfrey is vigorous and can reach, if the soil and conditions are suitable, a height of 1.2 metres (4 feet) and a width of 1.5 metres (5 feet). It grows in an erect clump, with upright stems and large green leaves covered in hairs. From May to July, it bears bell-shaped flowers, whose colour varies. It is sometimes considered a "weed" because it grows spontaneously in moist environments.

In cooking, its young leaves can be added raw to salads. Cooked, they can be stuffed, prepared in fritters, soups, or purees. The young flower buds, with a slightly marine taste, are cooked in the same way as broccoli or asparagus. However, be aware that although edible, its high alkaloid content makes it a plant to be consumed in moderation.

In pharmacy, its large leaves are used in poultices to treat minor injuries, as it facilitates healing and accelerates the consolidation of sprains. Excellent reparative balms, rich in allantoin, can also be prepared with its roots.

In the garden, Greater Comfrey is both ornamental and phyto-stimulating: very rich in potash and boron, Comfrey liquid manure complements Nettle liquid manure, which provides a lot of nitrogen. This liquid manure stimulates flowering and fruiting while improving foliar resistance. It can also be used as an activator for lazy compost and as a liquid fertilizer for the most demanding vegetables. It is also an excellent mulch: roughly chopped, Comfrey leaves decompose quickly, providing their nutrients to the soil. Finally, prepared as a decoction, it is a natural insecticide against aphids.

Lastly, it should be noted that it is a melliferous and nectariferous plant that will delight bees, bumblebees, and butterflies.

Harvest: it is carried out, from May to October, approximately every two weeks, by cutting the plant to about a third of its height.

Storage: Comfrey leaves can be well preserved by drying.

The gardener's little tip: Greater Comfrey easily multiplies, by dividing the stump but also by seed to the point of becoming... a bit too present. To enjoy its benefits without being overwhelmed by its spread, reserve a large space just for it, away from other crops, and remove any unwanted spontaneous seedlings if necessary.