‘Bocking 14’ Russian Comfrey - Organic

bare-root plants

3 ea: $22.50; Item: 7825-A; stock details: bare-root crowns

Symphytum × uplandicum

24–48" tall.

Highly recommended as a companion plant for orchards. We scythe and gather up the leaves for mulch, or to add to compost piles or compost teas—it is rich in silica, nitrogen, magnesium, calcium, potassium and iron. Clusters of bell-like magenta-purple flowers dangle above the deep green bristled foliage. Russian comfrey is thought to have a higher pyrrolizidine alkaloid content than the species. S. officinale is preferred for making herbal medicines.

Easy-to-grow vigorous plant demands space. Does not spread nearly as aggressively as Symphytum officinale, but keep an eye on it. Plant 24" apart in well-drained soil, sun or shade. Zone 3.

Maine Grown.

ships in spring

Quick Details

Maine Grown: Yes
Lifecycle: perennial
Bloom Color: magenta-purple
Hardy to Zone: 3

Compare

Compare with other Comfrey
Variety	Product Type	Maine Grown	Lifecycle	Bloom Color	Hardy to Zone
Comfrey	bare-root plants	Yes	perennial	pinkish purple	3
‘Bocking 14’ Russian Comfrey Organic	bare-root plants	Yes	perennial	magenta-purple	3

Additional Information

Herbaceous Perennial Plants

When you receive your order, open the bags and check the stock immediately. Roots and crowns should be firm and pliable. Surface mold is harmless and will not affect the plant’s future performance. Store plants in their packaging in a cool (35–40°) location until you are ready to plant. If it’s going to be awhile, you can pot up your perennials.

Do not plant bare-root perennial plant crowns directly outdoors before danger of frost has passed. Wet and/or cold conditions for an extended period may cause rotting.

For more info:
About planting bare-root perennials

Medicinal and Culinary Herbs

These plants have long histories of traditional culinary and medicinal uses. It’s up to you to educate yourself about the safety and efficacy of using plants for medicinal purposes. The statements in our catalog and website regarding traditional medicinal uses of plants have not been evaluated by the FDA. The plants we sell are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Plants may take a year or more to establish before they flower; roots often take several years to reach harvestable maturity.

Herbs

See Herb Chart for uses and cultural information.

About medicinal herbs: Archeological evidence dates the medicinal use of herbs back 60,000 years to the Neanderthals. 85% of the world’s population employ herbs as medicines, and 40% of pharmaceuticals in the U.S. contain plant-derived materials. Fewer than 10% of higher plant species have been investigated for their medicinal components. Interest in traditional herbal remedies continues to grow.

Statements about medicinal use of plants have not been evaluated by the FDA, and should not be used for the diagnosis, treatment, cure or prevention of any ailment. Before using or ingesting any medicinal plant, consult a healthcare practitioner familiar with botanical medicine.

Takinagawa Burdock and Resina Calendula, as well as oats, mammoth red clover and alfalfa in the Farm Seed section, also have medicinal uses. Medicinal herbs such as black cohosh, licorice, and many more are available as plants, and shipped in the spring with orders from our perennial plants warehouse.

Culture: Some herbs are customarily grown from divisions because they cannot come true from seed, such as scented thymes and flavored mints. Some require fall sowing of fresh seed, such as sweet cicely and angelica.

Using herbs: Drying herbs at home is not difficult. Whole leaves retain their flavor at least a year. To substitute fresh herbs for dried in cooking, use triple the dried quantity called for in a recipe.

Shipping

Items from our perennial plants warehouse ship from early March through mid-to-late May, weather depending, beginning with warmer USDA zones.