Pictorial guide to the flora of the British Isles

Home ⟩ Pictorial Guide ⟩ Boraginaceae ⟩ Symphytum officinale / common comfrey

Symphytum officinale L.

common comfrey (Boraginaceae)

 SpreadBias within British IslesDirection of bias
Very widespreadSlight tendencySE
Plant Atlas 2020
BSBI Distribution Map

Symphytum officinale grows in wet grasslands across the British Isles, partly as a native and partly as a garden escape.

Manchester (VC59: South Lancashire); 2007-06-17

 common comfrey / Symphytum officinale: _Symphytum officinale_ grows in wet grasslands across the British Isles, partly as a native and partly as a garden escape.

The strongly decurrent leaves separate Symphytum officinale from other species of Symphytum.

Manchester (VC59: South Lancashire); 2007-06-17

 common comfrey / Symphytum officinale: The strongly decurrent leaves separate _Symphytum officinale_ from other species of _Symphytum_.

The flowers of Symphytum officinale can vary from white to cream to purple, occasionally striped.

Oxford (VC23: Oxfordshire); 2013-10-29

 common comfrey / Symphytum officinale: The flowers of _Symphytum officinale_ can vary from white to cream to purple, occasionally striped.

All images copyright © Christopher J. Dixon unless otherwise indicated.

L-R: Bidens tripartita, Melilotus officinalis, Mimulus guttatus, Thalictrum flavum, Ranunculus peltatus, Anchusa arvensis, Malva alcea, Lolium perenne