• Post Reply Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic
permaculture forums growies critters building homesteading energy monies kitchen purity ungarbage community wilderness fiber arts art permaculture artisans regional education skip experiences global resources cider press projects digital market permies.com pie forums private forums all forums
this forum made possible by our volunteer staff, including ...
master stewards:
  • Carla Burke
  • Nancy Reading
  • John F Dean
  • r ransom
  • Jay Angler
  • Timothy Norton
stewards:
  • paul wheaton
  • Pearl Sutton
  • Tereza Okava
master gardeners:
  • Christopher Weeks
  • M Ljin
gardeners:
  • thomas rubino
  • Jeremy VanGelder
  • Megan Palmer

help me ID two, maybe four types of comfrey?

 
Posts: 10267
Location: a temperate, clay/loam spot on planet earth, the universe
3487
4
  • Likes 6
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
The first picture is earliest to bloom and my favorite color.
It's fairly low growing with smaller narrower leaves than the other...I think it was called Russian comfrey by the person who gave it to me but I've never been sure..

The second photo is some from seed, 'symphytum officinale' bought from Richters.
It I am certain of except that I already had a similar growing one with similar colored flowers that I think is intermingling in some planting areas...not pollinating since that one is sterile even though the common has viable seed.
Will add photos as they flower.

The third photo is a clumping type and It will have pinkish flowers.
I shared it years ago at a plant swap and lost mine when we moved so have been able to get some plants from our son who I shared with originally.   I've never known it's name?

I  realize flowers are probably key to ID...should be more blooming soon as they are budding up.
IMG_20260401_090602_879-2.jpg
#1 blue flowers, low growing
#1 blue flowers, low growing
IMG_20260401_090645_542-2.jpg
#2 common, viable seed
#2 common, viable seed
IMG_20260401_090713_749-2.jpg
#3 clumping,
#3 clumping,
 
Judith Browning
Posts: 10267
Location: a temperate, clay/loam spot on planet earth, the universe
3487
4
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
This is comfrey type #4 of my photos.

This is the one I've had the longest (40yrs+) but has similar growth and flower color to #2.
It is in a spot where I would not have put the viable seed one....I think.

any guesses as to varieties?

It probably doesn't matter all that much except I thought I might try to sell some and then I would need to be more certain whats what.
IMG_20260405_110539_702-2.jpg
[Thumbnail for IMG_20260405_110539_702-2.jpg]
#4 comfrey
 
Judith Browning
Posts: 10267
Location: a temperate, clay/loam spot on planet earth, the universe
3487
4
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
common comfrey #2 flowering.
from seed, 'symphytum officinale'
IMG_20260414_134520_389-2.jpg
#2 from seed, 'symphytum officinale'
#2 from seed, 'symphytum officinale'
IMG_20260417_155936_867-2.jpg
#2 from seed 'symphytum officinale'
#2 from seed 'symphytum officinale'
 
Judith Browning
Posts: 10267
Location: a temperate, clay/loam spot on planet earth, the universe
3487
4
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
#2, #1, #4.

2 is a paler version of 4.



IMG_20260417_160157_009-2.jpg
#2, #1, #4
#2, #1, #4
 
Judith Browning
Posts: 10267
Location: a temperate, clay/loam spot on planet earth, the universe
3487
4
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
adding this link to read later https://permies.com/t/15627/Comfrey-Varieties
 
I agree. Here's the link: http://stoves2.com
reply
    Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic