Plant Overview
A British native ground-cover plant with clusters of creamy-yellow to white drooping flowers from pink-red buds, in late spring and early summer.
Forms a good sized clump and spreads well, so use as ground cover. Excellent for under trees and shrubs.
Height and spread: 40cm x 60cm
Common name: Creeping Comfrey; Dwarf Comfrey; Cherubim and Seraphim
Symphytum:
As seen from the common names, it has long been used as a herbal cure, edible vegetable and animal fodder. It has also been used as a compost maker and plant food. An early use was in setting bones, the roots being ground to a paste and used in the way plaster of Paris is used today. The name comfrey comes from the Latin 'Conferre', meaning to bring together. Symphytum comes from the Greek 'Symphyo' - to make whole. All are useful for shady positions, although they will also grow in sun, preferring some moisture.
Do not eat.
Photo: Katrin Schneider, korina.info – CC-BY-SA-4.0, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
