PREORDER FOR 2027! This product ships in Spring 2027 (we are sold out of comfrey for 2026). Comfrey, belonging to the Borage (Boraginaceae) family, is a remarkable plant that belongs in every farm and garden. Comfrey’s thick, resilient roots play an important role in soil structure, improving water infiltration, aeration, and root access for surrounding plants. It's also a dynamic accumulator for potassium, making the leaves a natural potassium-rich fertilizer for regenerative and permaculture systems. As an ornamental plant, comfrey has long, broad leaves and pink/purple flowers that are beloved by pollinators and other helpful insects. VARIETY: We offer the Bocking 14 cultivar, which is sterile and won't become invasive. SHIPPING INFO: We will begin shipping in FEBRUARY, depending on your location (if there is risk of extreme temperatures, we may hold until March) Soil Enrichment Comfrey is fast-growing, has a lot of biomass, and has thick, resilient roots that go much deeper than your typical row crop, breaking up compacted soils (especially clays). In this aspect, comfrey functions similar to radishes in cover crop mixes. During dry conditions or winter, portions of the roots naturally die back and slough off, leaving behind channels in the soil. The large root system also makes comfrey a good choice for natural low or wet spots. For home use, strategically plant comfrey near the kitchen door for easy access and in areas where downspouts saturate the ground. It's also beneficial around animal pens. Dynamic Accumulator for Potassium That same deep root system allows comfrey to draw minerals from deeper soil layers than garden plants can reach. In particular, comfrey absorbs high amounts of potassium, storing it in the leaves. That makes comfrey leaves a natural fertilizer for tomatoes, potatoes, or other crops that need extra potassium. There are two primary ways comfrey leaves are used as fertilizer: Biodynamic Tea: Fresh leaves can be steeped in water for several weeks to create a nutrient-rich biodynamic tea, promoting plant vitality and growth. This liquid fertilizer is fast-acting and heavy on potassium. Enriched Compost: Incorporating fresh leaves into compost piles results in nitrogen-rich and potassium-rich compost. Companion Planting Because of its fast growth, comfrey can be difficult to manage if interplanted with row crops. However, it is an excellent companion plant for fruit trees and bushes, which have larger root systems and higher potassium requirements (essential for sugar transport in developing fruit). For berry bushes, you can interplant comfrey between each bush, or do a row of comfrey alternating with a row of bushes. For orchards, plant comfrey several feet out from the base of each tree. When needed, the comfrey leaves can be chopped to mulch the surrounding fruit trees or bushes. (Or made into the biodynamic tea, if you need the nutrients to be available faster). Herbal Tradition Once called "knitbone" in medieval Europe, comfrey has traditionally been applied as a topical poultice to reduce the pain and swelling caused by joint inflammation or muscle sprains. Comfrey also contains allantoin, a compound often used in skincare products to protect the skin and retain moisture. Disclaimer: We are not medical professionals and in no way are we giving medical advice. Use at your own discretion and consult a professional if you are in need of medical help. It is not recommended to take comfrey internally, as it contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids. How to Propagate Comfrey: We offer various propagation methods: root cuttings, crown divisions, and rooted cuttings in 3" pots. While both types mature to full-size plants within a year, crown divisions have a slight edge in growth speed and survival rate. If you adhere to our instructions, we guarantee a 90% survival rate for root cuttings. Here are some planting tips: Space them at least 2 feet apart. Optimal conditions include rich, medium-moisture soil with either full sun or partial shade. Enhance growth by applying composted manure during planting or around the plant during its growth cycle. For root cuttings, prepare a 1-foot square weed-free area, fertilize with compost, bury the cutting in the center, and cover with 1-2 inches of soil. Avoid exposing the cutting; allow it to sprout naturally, usually within two weeks. Alternatively, start in a greenhouse and transplant when rooted. Long-term Plant Care Comfrey is resilient and requires minimal care. It flourishes in rich, moist soil and benefits from mulching. After flowering, when the plant wilts, trim it. Use the leaves for your garden, or place them around the plant to serve as mulch. In temperate regions, this cycle might repeat 2-5 times during the summer. Annually add compost and balanced fertilizer for optimum growth. To eliminate comfrey, either deprive it of water or submerge it completely. Tilling or digging might cause new growth from root fragments. For bulk orders, please reach out to us! Non-GMO Commitment: At Growing Farmers and The Farm on Central, all our plants are guaranteed non-GMO and not genetically modified in any way, upholding natural breeding methods and promoting sustainable gardening and farming practices. In addition, this item has been grown at the Farm on Central where we use organic and regenerative growing practices to produce products that are safe for you and the environment.
