A Little About Our Comfrey Garden by The Creek
We’re nestled here in southwest VA, just 15 minutes east of the Blue Ridge Parkway near Stuart, Virginia. Our comfrey garden sits right beside the peaceful waters of Poorhouse Creek, which winds its way down to the South Mayo River—a stream you’ll often find dotted with trout fishermen enjoying a quiet day.
Besides growing products for you, our comfrey is a vital part of life here. It makes up a portion of our chickens’ feed and is a favorite browse for the local wildlife, especially our robust deer population. We’re happy to share this wonderful plant, offering fresh-dug dormant roots from first frost to first spring leaf, and crowns & rhizomes throughout the growing season.
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General FAQs
Comfrey, the dynamic accumulator.
Think of comfrey as a powerful “mineral pump” for your garden. Its deep roots—reaching up to 10 feet into the subsoil—mine valuable nutrients like potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and trace minerals that are out of reach for most other plants. These nutrients are then stored in its fast-growing leaves.
When you cut the leaves and drop them on the soil as mulch or add them to your compost pile, they break down and release this rich nutrient load, making it available to your other garden plants. It’s a natural, time-honored way to build fertile soil and feed your garden without relying on synthetic fertilizers.
Comfrey, Medicinal Plant – External use only please!
Comfrey has a long history of traditional use for healing wounds, sprains, and bruises when applied to the skin, thanks to a compound called allantoin that supports cell regeneration. However, it is crucial to note that comfrey contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), which can be toxic to the liver if ingested. Therefore, we strongly emphasize external use only. We recommend consulting with a healthcare professional before using comfrey for any medicinal purpose.
Comfrey the livestock feed
Comfrey is a highly nutritious, protein-rich supplement that many animals love, including chickens, pigs, goats, and rabbits. It’s often called “knitbone” for its historical use in supporting animal health and recovery. It’s best fed fresh or dried as part of a balanced diet. We feed it to our own chickens here at the garden! As with any new feed, it’s wise to introduce it gradually.
How do I plant and care for my comfrey root or crown?
Comfrey is a hardy and low-maintenance perennial! Plant your root cutting or crown in a sunny to partly shady spot, about 2-3 inches deep in well-draining soil. Space plants about 3 feet apart, as they will grow into large clumps. Water it well to get it established, but after that, it’s quite drought-tolerant. You can expect to see growth in your first season and a robust, harvestable plant by the second year.
What are Comfreys’ scientific and common nicknames?
You’ll find this amazing plant under a few different names! Its scientific name is Symphytum officinale. Gardeners often call it a “dynamic accumulator” for its soil-building powers. But its most charming names come from tradition: Knitbone and Boneset, which hail from its historical use in poultices to support the healing of fractures and wounds.
Why do we use Bocking 14 Comfrey in our garden?
We specifically grow the Bocking 14 cultivar because it offers significant benefits for gardeners. Unlike traditional comfrey varieties, Bocking 14 is sterile—it doesn’t produce seeds. This means it won’t self-seed and potentially become invasive in your garden. Instead, it grows in a manageable clump and all its energy goes into producing massive, nutrient-rich leaves, making it the perfect choice for organic fertilizer, compost, and livestock feed.