Prickly Comfrey
Symphytum asperumfam. Boraginaceae
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Pl. 88B3 — Symphytum asperum
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IOverview
Overview
Prickly Comfrey (Symphytum asperum), a perennial herb in the Boraginaceae family, is native to regions such as Iran, North Caucasus, Transcaucasus, and Turkey. This plant can grow up to 1.5 meters tall and thrives in moist, light to heavy soils with a pH range of 7.5 to 8. Its distinctive feature is the presence of prickles on the stems, which can make handling a bit challenging. Prickly Comfrey is valued both for its ornamental appeal and its edible and medicinal uses. The leaves and shoots can be consumed, making it a useful addition to the garden. In traditional use, Prickly Comfrey appears in herbal sources around traditional skin-care routines, often as a topical preparation. However, it is important to note that PlantSage presents this as ethnobotanical context, not as medical advice. This plant has been introduced to various regions including Alaska, Austria, Belarus, and many others, where it can sometimes exhibit weed potential.
Quick answers
What is Prickly Comfrey?
Prickly Comfrey (Symphytum asperum), a perennial herb in the Boraginaceae family, is native to regions such as Iran, North Caucasus, Transcaucasus, and Turkey. This plant can grow up to 1.5 meters tall and thrives in moist, light to heavy soils with a pH range of 7.
What is Prickly Comfrey used for?
Traditionally used for topical & skin. Each claim is evidence-rated — see Section II for full citations.
Best for
Top 1 evidence-ranked use of Prickly Comfrey
Clinicaluses · safety · chemistry · dosagemedicinal profile
IIBenefits & evidence
1 claim · traditional-use context
Benefits & evidence
1 claim · traditional-use contextTraditional-use context
These notes are presented as ethnobotanical context. No cited clinical references are catalogued for this plant yet.
- Traditional-use note: Prickly Comfrey appears in herbal sources around traditional skin-care routines, often as a topical preparation. PlantSage presents this as ethnobotanical context, not as medical advice.
Traditional context only. This reviewed claim keeps the original moderate confidence level, but avoids treatment, disease, dosage, or guaranteed-effect language.
▲ ModerateTopical & skin →
IV·bMixology suggestions
1 draft
Mixology suggestions
1 draftEditorial drafts. These pairings are AI-suggested from traditional herbal lore. Always verify with a qualified herbalist before brewing.
Prickly Comfrey support blend
generaltea
AI returned a direct ingredient list; normalized into one draft blend for editorial review.
Growingconditions · propagation · uses
VCultivation
Cultivation
Prickly Comfrey thrives in moist, well-drained soils that are light (sandy), medium, or heavy (clay). It prefers a slightly alkaline pH of 7.5–8 and requires moderate to high light conditions. This perennial herb grows up to 1.5 meters tall and is hardy in temperate regions from USDA zones 4-8. For propagation, gardeners can use division or seed sowing. Harvest the edible leaves and shoots for culinary uses.
Light
8/10
Water
Moist
Soil
Light (sandy), Medium, Heavy (clay)
Hardiness
4-8
Life cycle
Perennial
Habit
Forb/herb
Mature size
1.5 m tall
Soil pH
7.5–8
For first-time growers
How to grow Prickly Comfrey for the first time
8steps
Start with planting Prickly Comfrey in a sunny spot and follow these simple steps for success.
- 1
What you'll need
A small Prickly Comfrey plant or seeds, garden gloves, a trowel.
- 2
Best time to plant
Plant in spring after the last frost or in fall before the first freeze.
- 3
Soil and container prep
Ensure soil is moist, light (sandy), medium, or heavy with a pH of 7.5–8. A well-draining garden bed or large pot works best.
- 4
Sowing or transplanting
Transplant young plants directly into the garden or start seeds indoors and transplant them later.
- 5
First two weeks
Water regularly to keep soil consistently moist. Avoid overwatering, which can lead to root rot.
- 6
Ongoing care
Prune dead leaves and stems to encourage new growth. Mulch around the plant to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
- 7
Harvest or pruning
Prune back after flowering to promote a bushier plant and prevent self-seeding.
- 8
Common mistakes
Overwatering, planting in too heavy soil, not providing enough light, neglecting regular pruning.
VIEdible & utility
Edible & utility
Edible parts:LeavesShoots
Edible uses: Gum, Tea
Other uses:BiomassCompostGum
Contextrange · companions · related
VIIDistribution
4 native · 39 introduced
Distribution
4 native · 39 introducedDistribution across3 continents· 4 native· 39 introduced
Europe13 regions
native (1)Russia
introduced (12)AustriaBelarusBelgiumDenmarkFinlandFranceNorwayRussiaSwedenSwitzerlandUkraineUnited Kingdom
Asia2 regions
native (2)IranTurkey
Americas1 region
introduced (1)United States
Broader regions
native:Transcaucasus
introduced:British Columbia, California, Connecticut, Czechoslovakia, Kirgizstan, Maine, Manitoba, Masachusettes, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Brunswick, New York, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ohio, Ontario, Oregon, Prince Edward I., Québec, Saskatchewan, Tadzhikistan, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin
IXSpecimen gallery
1 image
Specimen gallery
1 imageXSee also
8 related
See also
8 relatedPlants you might compare or use together — scored by shared family (Boraginaceae), common use cases, and growing requirements.
same family · Boraginaceae
Botanical relatives — often share phytochemistry + growing needs.
shared use cases
Different families, similar therapeutic role — good for comparing.
XI
Explore further
Companion planting
Compare with similar plants
Growing zone
Native to
XII
About this entry
- Last updated
- Citation
- How to cite this entry · Submit a correction
Back to the cataloguePlant id · 88b35905-9b82-4c1f-8142-7eba26e1a9dd
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