Comfrey is one of our most popular medicinal herbs. Common Comfrey is also referred to as ‘Knitbone’ as it is the plant's high concentrations of Allantoin that helps reduce inflammation of sprains and broken bones. When mashed and heated into a poultice or applied as a salve, Comfrey can also make a wonderfully mild astringent great for ulcers and sores. The plant's natural Allantoin levels also make it a great herb for after sun care. Just steep fresh comfrey into a tea for external use, by straining the leaves and letting it cool. You can then soak the sunburned areas in the cooled tea to help reduce pain and discomfort, and promote healthy skin regeneration.

This vigorous self-seeder originated in Europe and temperate parts of Asia. Comfrey has dark green, long and oval shaped leaves that grow on upright branches on top of the plant. Soft, bell-shaped flowers in yellow or purple bloom from May until September. Comfrey enjoys a wet, shady area and will do well in most soil types. Though it makes a beautiful addition to the garden, it can sometimes be bothersome to get rid of, as new shoots grow easily from pieces of severed roots.

More recently, Comfrey has been the subject of a hot new composting trend. Because the plant yields large amounts of leaves, breaks down quickly and contains natural compost activators, you can create a compost tea from comfrey for fertilizing your plants. To learn how to make your own comfrey compost tea and how it benefits your garden, read our blog, Comfrey: Your Compost Companion.

** Please note: Comfrey should not be taken internally as, even in small doses over time, it can be harmful.