Comfrey - Bocking 4 vs Bocking 14: How to differentiate?!

Years ago...I planted both Bocking 4 and Bocking 14 in the same bed.

At one point, I had the plants marked with flags - but my flags are gone.

We're a few weeks out from the plants starting to push out of the ground.

Here in NE Ohio, Zone 5B - will one start to push sooner than later?

Are there any distinguishing characteristics I should look for to differentiate the plants?

I am under the impression that one has pinkish flowers and the other is more blue. Like you I tried to plant one for the fertilizer aspect and the other for possible nutrition, but both of my orders turned out to have the pink flowers so I think I got gyped.

Rob, Burl, everyone,

If blue flowers are the distinguishing feature of Bocking 14, then I have Bocking 14 as every year they grow nice blue flowers.

Eric

Burl Smith wrote:I am under the impression that one has pinkish flowers and the other is more blue. Like you I tried to plant one for the fertilizer aspect and the other for possible nutrition, but both of my orders turned out to have the pink flowers so I think I got gyped.

I have Bocking 14 and the flowers are blue.  If you want to trade some roots or small plants, let me know!

Plants will be coming up soon.

I know exactly where I planted them and roughly where the different ones are.

I also know that I initially planted more Bocking 4 than Bocking 14 years ago.

So...perhaps I'll watch this closely and keep an eye on it with some pics over the next few days and weeks.

Eric Hanson wrote:Rob, Burl, everyone,

If blue flowers are the distinguishing feature of Bocking 14, then I have Bocking 14 as every year they grow nice blue flowers.

Eric

I'll have to monitor the flowers more closely...as far as I can tell both are a nice blue.  :)

I guess I don't have Bocking 14 either.  My flowers are all pink.

Scott Foster wrote:I guess I don't have Bocking 14 either.  My flowers are all pink.

Hmmm...I wonder if we're getting somewhere with the pink/purple flowers?

- https://monicawilde.com/is-comfrey-edible/

A good article (potentially) outlining some helpful hints on identification

Admittedly I haven't read it in depth enough to validate but it appears legit

I have blocking 14 growing here, at least according to the previous homeowner who planted them. Here are the spectrum of flower colors I see on them.

Brian Jeffrey wrote:I have blocking 14 growing here, at least according to the previous homeowner who planted them. Here are the spectrum of flower colors I see on them.

Yes - I think there's far too much variance in flower color to utilize this as a sole manner of identification.

Based on memory and other powers of observation, I'll take a photo as I drive by tonight.  

Will try to do so daily and monitor progress.

I planted all #4 a month ago. If any comes up I'd be happy to take pictures but I bet by then the question will be moot.

April 2, 2020 - Zone 5b, NE Ohio

No growth showing in the comfrey patch

This year I have a clump of white flowered comfrey.  Right smack in the patch of blue and pink flowered plants.  And a second white one popped up between two apples trees. weird.

Brian Jeffrey wrote:This year I have a clump of white flowered comfrey.  Right smack in the patch of blue and pink flowered plants.  And a second white one popped up between two apples trees. weird.

Cool!  Little John up in WI is growing out several varieites of comfrey.

I completely lost track of this (again) and everything is flowering already.

What happened to the time?

Two months just went by!

Brian Jeffrey wrote:This year I have a clump of white flowered comfrey.  Right smack in the patch of blue and pink flowered plants.  And a second white one popped up between two apples trees. weird.

Interesting. The leaves on your white variety look different than mine.  Do you have any idea if it's bocking 4, 14 or officinale?

Michelle Heath wrote:

Brian Jeffrey wrote:This year I have a clump of white flowered comfrey.  Right smack in the patch of blue and pink flowered plants.  And a second white one popped up between two apples trees. weird.

Interesting. The leaves on your white variety look different than mine.  Do you have any idea if it's bocking 4, 14 or officinale?

I was told by the person who planted it that it all is blocking 14.  It has been in the ground for over 5 years.  Pure speculation, but it may be possible the plants are just showing different expressions from the different microclimates?  

Brian, if you ever decide to make root cuttings of the white flowered variety, I'd be interested in a few.

Brian Jeffrey wrote:

Michelle Heath wrote:

Brian Jeffrey wrote:This year I have a clump of white flowered comfrey.  Right smack in the patch of blue and pink flowered plants.  And a second white one popped up between two apples trees. weird.

Interesting. The leaves on your white variety look different than mine.  Do you have any idea if it's bocking 4, 14 or officinale?

I was told by the person who planted it that it all is blocking 14.  It has been in the ground for over 5 years.  Pure speculation, but it may be possible the plants are just showing different expressions from the different microclimates?  

Possibly?

Personally - the differences I can see between Bocking 4 and 14 are negligible.

This comes from +20 years experience in the green industry - but I can't propagate and sell from this bed.

I'm wondering if I just begin the process of digging and moving it all over the property now.

Start fresh beds for propagation new and keep better track of my plants for sale.  

This is probably going to be the best approach...especially if I advertise free "you dig" comfrey.  

Get it out of here lol

Are the different cultivars of comfrey reputed to be good.for different purposes? I've only ever know comfrey as a medicinal (largely to be applied topically) and all the comfrey I've ever worked with has been either wild or the cutting I've been toting around the last 5 years that I was given off of a 30 year old cluster who's gardener gave no  name. What is the purported difference between these bocking's? Also why is it called bocking?

s. lowe wrote:Are the different cultivars of comfrey reputed to be good.for different purposes? I've only ever know comfrey as a medicinal (largely to be applied topically) and all the comfrey I've ever worked with has been either wild or the cutting I've been toting around the last 5 years that I was given off of a 30 year old cluster who's gardener gave no  name. What is the purported difference between these bocking's? Also why is it called bocking?

Here's a good link to another thread that might help with your questions:  https://permies.com/t/15975/Comfrey-Bocking-Clarification

Rob Kaiser wrote:Plants will be coming up soon.

I know exactly where I planted them and roughly where the different ones are.

I also know that I initially planted more Bocking 4 than Bocking 14 years ago.

So...perhaps I'll watch this closely and keep an eye on it with some pics over the next few days and weeks.

What did you discover difference in performance?

Oh yeah, giving names to plants. I wouldn't trust any breeder to have what they say it is.
I have some road side comfreys gotten given to me from holidays, they said it was "of course" the bocking 14.
What do people say on here? Purple flowers means bocking 14?
All these big ones that do not spread like crazy through rizomes have that.
If it matters to you to have that one specifically you'd have to source it from some sciency people who've investigated and who's career you can ruin if they're wrong.
They're super plants the ones i got! Making giant folliage, i dig them up and use the root in a balm for joints and muscles. I always then still have 5 or something to plant out in rows to block out grass coming into my veggiepatches. And on the spot where i dug out the rootball sometimes ten grow back.
Do not get ones that grow from seed! If you want to stay where you live that is. They take over the neighborhood. With you being the shining middlepoint in blue flower land.

I live in California zone 9b. For me I planted comfrey blocking 14 crown. It was a darker wider leaf, just more lush looking plant. I struggled to keep it alive, and killed a few, not to mention the huge quantity of root cuttings I killed.  Thank goodness I tried common comfrey.  I have been starting them from seed. They don't need to be babied, and are growing very well.  The leaves are thinner, and a a lighter green.  I was worried about it becoming invasive. I planted a couple last year. They grew well, and are popping up now. So far I don't think I have even one extra plant.  That's not to say it won't happen, but so far so good.  I have several new comfrey plants I started , waiting to be planted next to one of my fruit trees.  
For me starting the seeds is the way to go. Way cheaper, and grow so much better.
The picture is when it pretty young it's filled out a lot.  I know for a fact it's common  comfrey because I started it from seed.

Jen Fulkerson wrote:I live in California zone 9b. For me I planted comfrey blocking 14 crown. It was a darker wider leaf, just more lush looking plant. I struggled to keep it alive, and killed a few, not to mention the huge quantity of root cuttings I killed.  Thank goodness I tried blocking 4.  I have been starting them from seed. They don't need to be babied, and are growing very well.  The leaves are thinner, and a a lighter green.  I was worried about it becoming invasive. I planted a couple last year. They grew well, and are popping up now. So far I don't think I have even one extra plant.  That's not to say it won't happen, but so far so good.  I have several new comfrey plants I started , waiting to be planted next to one of my fruit trees.  
For me starting the seeds is the way to go. Way cheaper, and grow so much better.
The picture is when it pretty young it's filled out a lot.  I know for a fact it's blocking 4 because I started it from seed.

I was under the impression that bocking 4 and 14 do not set seed, which is why people seek them out. They're reportedly non-invasive for that very reason. I'd be curious to know where you got your seed from.

You are right Dan thank you.  I looked it up, and I'm not sure what to call it. I'm going to go with common comfrey, because that's what I see most on the Internet. I found  where I purchased blocking 14 crowns, so I assumed mine was 4. I should know better than to assume. I'm going to edit my post so I'm not giving false info.  Thanks for the heads up.