Symphytum × uplandicum

Symphytum × uplandicum
Bocking 14 Russian comfrey
Light:
Moisture:
Hardiness:	6B
Soil pH:	5.1-8.5
Height:	4'
Width:	2'
Speed:	Fast
Life Span:	Perennial
Blooms:	Spring-Summer
Forest
Edible Rating:
Medicinal Rating:

For similar plants, see comfrey.

Symphytum × uplandicum (common names: Russian comfrey and Bocking 14) is a sterile, naturally occurring hybrid between S. officinale and S. asperum. This comfrey is a popular choice in gardens due to its sterile seeds in a typically expansive plant.

This hybrid was extensively studied in the 1950s by Lawrence Hills at his comfrey research program in Bocking, England where he trialed 21 comfrey types, each he named after the village with a sequential id. With the exception of Bocking 4 and 14, all other Bocking strains were lost to time.

Propagation

This plant is propagated through root or crown division. Select an adult plant and remove the top 3" of root. The original plant will regrow from root remerents left in the [psoil]]. Divide the crown and root fragments into smaller segments and plant in new location. Crowns establish faster, followed by larger root segments. The plant is persistent once established.

This hybrid tolerates most situations and soils, including heavy clays, but prefers moist soil with some shade. Plant in nutrient- rich soil in an sunny spot if grown for compost material.

Uses

The plant's extensive roots, up to 6 feet deep, reach into the lower layers of soil, pulling nutrients into large leaves that rapidly grow from Spring until hard frosts. The nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash-rich leaves can be chopped and dropped multiple times per year for a mulch.

The flowers provide nectar and pollen to many species of bees and other pollinators. Parasitic wasps and spiders hunt on and near the plant, lacewings use it to lay their eggs, and spiders find shelter in it over Winter.

The food has a long history as animal fodder and can be eaten fresh by pigs, sheep, and poultry, with wilted leaves being more palatable to cattle, rabbits, and horses.

The young, hairy leaves are edible to humans and contains many minerals, but the taste is unpalatable with a mucilaginous texture. Finely chop and add to salads or cook to improve its taste and disguise hairiness. Older leaves can be dried and used as a tea. Young shoots can be used as an asparagus substitute. Peeled roots are cut up and added to soups or roasted with dandelion and chicory roots to make a coffee substitute.

Comfrey is a commonly used herbal medicine with a long and proven history in the treatment of various complaints. The root and the leaves are used, the root being more active, and they can be taken internally or used externally as a poultice. Comfrey is especially useful in the external treatment of cuts, bruises, sprains, sores, eczema, varicose veins, broken bones etc, internally it is used in the treatment of a wide range of pulmonary complaints, internal bleeding etc. The plant contains a substance called 'allantoin', a cell proliferant that speeds up the healing process. This substance is now synthesized in the pharmaceutical industry and used in healing creams. The root and leaves are anodyne, astringent (mild), demulcent, emollient, expectorant, haemostatic, refrigerant, vulnerary. Some caution is advised, however, especially in the internal use of the herb. External applications and internally taken teas or tinctures of the leaves are considered to be completely safe, but internal applications of tablets or capsules are felt to have too many drawbacks for safe usage. See also the notes above on toxicity. The leaves are harvested in early summer before the plant flowers, the roots are harvested in the autumn. Both are dried for later use.

A homeopathic remedy is made from the fresh root, harvested before the plant flowers. This has a very limited range of application, but is of great benefit in the treatment of broken bones and eye injuries.

Usage: The plant grows very quickly, producing a lot of bulk. It is tolerant of being cut several times a year and can be used to provide 'instant compost' for crops such as potatoes. Simply layer the wilted leaves at the bottom of the potato trench or apply them as a mulch in no-dig gardens. A liquid feed can be obtained by soaking the leaves in a small amount of water for a week, excellent for potassium demanding crops such as tomatoes. The leaves are also a very valuable addition to the compost heap.

A gum obtained from the roots was at one time used in the treatment of wool before it was spun.

The plant grows densely and forms a thick ground covering when planted 4-feet apart.

Concerns

The plant contains small quantities of a toxic alkaloid which has a cumulative effect upon the liver. These alkaloids are concentrated in older roots. Most people would have to consume very large quantities of the plant to cause harm, but individuals with liver problems should be more cautious. Young leaves contain almost none of the alkaloid.

Subject to attacks by the rust fungus, this can be alleviated by giving the plants a high potash feed, wood ashes are often used.

This plant contains small quantities of a toxic alkaloid which can have a cumulative effect upon the liver. Largest concentrations are found in the roots, leaves contain higher quantities of the alkaloid as they grow older and young leaves contain almost none. Most people would have to consume very large quantities of the plant in order to do any harm, though anyone with liver problems should obviously be more cautious. In general, the health-promoting properties of the plant probably far outweigh any possible disbenefits, especially if only the younger leaves are used.

Links

• Symphytum × uplandicum - Plants for a Future
• USDA Plants Profile
• Edible Acres - Seeds, ships to US
• Comfrey Planting - YouTube Video