Common Comfrey

Symphytum officinale

Common comfrey is a vigorous, deep-rooted perennial with large, rough-hairy leaves and arching stems bearing nodding clusters of tubular bells that shift from cream through pink to purple as they open — a favourite of bumblebees. Invaluable as a dynamic accumulator in the kitchen garden and as a bold structural plant for wilder parts of the garden, it rewards placement where its energetic spread can be allowed free rein.