Saturday, 21 April 2018



 I grow several kinds of Comfrey in the garden. Symphytum orientale is just coming into flower now.



 Sometimes called White Comfrey the flowers are indeed pure white. It grows to several feet tall, expanding to form clumps and is something of a self seeder. It hails from Turkey I believe but has become quite widely naturalised. Rather graceful as Comfreys go in my opinion.



 Symphytum grandiflorum aka Creeping Comfrey is as the common name suggests a low growing groundcovering Comfrey. Actually I wouldn't say that the florum are all that grandi but they have a lovely creamy colour. This is the first of the species to flower from early spring onwards.


 
 Symphytum Hidcote is a cultivar whose origins seem to be somewhat obscure. The flowers have a pronounced bluish or pinkish tinge.
 It's also a good ground cover and S. grandiflorum is most likely one of its antecedents. Comfreys hybridize quite freely and there are a number of them developed by breeders over the years. All the above are good in part shade and dry soil which can be useful.


 
 Bees love all Comfreys. If you want bees in the spring garden: plant Comfrey.