My introduction to comfrey, more than 30 years ago, remains a wonderful memory. Comfrey is definitely a plant worthy of love. Its numerous features make it an essential plant for every garden. At ...

The plant’s pretty appearance and hardiness make it a popular ornamental. Comfrey is not new, and comfrey salves, balms and creams have been around for centuries. Yet most people still don’t ...

Comfrey, Symphytum officinale, is still a valuable addition to the garden though. The leaves contain a significant amount of all three major plant nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

The plant also contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, toxic chemicals that are highly concentrated in its roots. Uses: Comfrey is taken in a variety of ways, some more dangerous than others.

It`s a hardy plant and so easy to grow. Learn how to grow, harvest, and use comfrey to create natural fertilizers. Elle Jenkins from Australian Medicinal Herbs is with us to explain that it can ...

Comfrey is a hardy plant. It will be fine on its own and may grow larger leaves with an occasional addition of organic fertilizer. Avoid over fertilizing as the resulting succulent growth may ...

How I Use Comfrey in Garden Design . I use comfrey in a range of ways in garden design. It is important to remember that comfrey has deep roots and these plants are difficult, if not impossible ...

Originally published as “Safely Growing Comfrey Plants” in the Ask Our Experts column of the August/September 2023 issue of MOTHER EARTH NEWS magazine and regularly vetted for accuracy.

The Claim: Lotion made from the flowering comfrey plant is a natural way to ease muscle and joint pain. The Verdict: Several scientific studies suggest comfrey is effective for back pain, ankle ...

The comfrey plant is primarily a leafy green plant that can sprout small, hanging, yellow, purple, or white flowers. Selvey ...

For plants that need nitrogen for green growth — peas, beans, cut-and-come-again leaves and so on — you can follow exactly this method, but using nettles. Not that it smells any better. If you have ...

Originally published as “Comfrey for the Homestead” in the May/June 1974 issue of MOTHER EARTH NEWS and edited to reflect today’s knowledge of the plant as well as terminology.