Symphytum officinale aka Common Comfrey

Symphytum officinale, commonly known as comfrey, is a vigorous perennial plant belonging to the family Boraginaceae. It grows up to 1.5m tall and forms a clump of erect stems with coarse, hairy dark green leaves that can reach up to 25cm in length. The leaves have winged stalks, and in late spring and summer, clusters of tubular blue flowers, approximately 2cm in length, appear. This plant is native to Europe, particularly found in damp, grassy areas along river banks and ditches in Ireland and Britain. It has also been introduced as a species and can sometimes be considered a weed in North America. Bumblebees are frequent visitors to its flowers. Symphytum officinale is a perennial that grows fast and can reach heights of 1.2m. It is hardy in zone 5 of the UK and is not easily affected by frost. It flowers from May to June, with the seeds ripening from June to July. Being a hermaphrodite plant, it is pollinated by bees. It can thrive in different soil types, including light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils. It can tolerate various pH levels, ranging from acidic to neutral and alkaline. This plant is adaptable to semi-shade conditions, such as light woodlands, but can also grow in areas with no shade. It prefers moist soil. It is important to note that internal or long-term topical use of comfrey is discouraged due to its potential to cause liver toxicity.