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Symphytum officinale
Also called Boneset, Consound, Cultivated comfrey, Knitbone, Quaker comfrey, Slippery-root, True comfrey
Common comfrey is a hardy perennial herb of damp grassland and riverbanks, grown for its large leaves and bell-shaped flowers and used as a compost activator. It is tough and easy to establish, but it spreads by roots and its leaves contain toxic compounds.
Symphytum officinale is a perennial flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae. Along with 34 other species of Symphytum, it is known as comfrey (from the Latin confervere to 'heal' or literally to 'boil together', referring to uses in ancient traditional medicine). Internal or long-term topical use of comfrey is discouraged due to its strong potential to cause liver toxicity.
To differentiate it from other members of the genus Symphytum, this species is known as common comfrey or true comfrey. Other English names include boneset, knitbone, consound, and slippery-root.
Comfrey is mildly toxic. Like most Boraginaceae, it contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids which are toxic compounds readily absorbed via the stomach or skin, and have potential to increase the risk of fatal liver toxicity. In 2001, the US Food and Drug Administration and Federal Trade Commission banned the sale of comfrey products for internal use and use on open wounds due to its potential toxicities. A 2018 review on pyrrolizidine alkaloids present in comfrey indicated widespread potential toxicity to humans and livestock, and the opportunity for drug development from these compounds.
Comfrey is found in moist grasslands or along riverbanks and ditches in western Asia, Europe, and North America. It is a perennial herb that is cold hardy down to −35 °C (−31 °F) and drought tolerant.
Despite its toxicity, the leaves and shoots have been considered edible, even raw; the stalks are said to be best collected prior to flowering and blanched prior to steaming; the leaves may also be used in tea.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Symphytum officinale by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
