Symphytum 'Hidcote Pink'

Vigorous deciduous spreading hairy perennial that grows up to 60cm tall and 50cm wide.

Pendent clusters of red flower buds open to pinky-white bell shaped flowers which bloom through late winter and early spring. The leaves are green oval shaped and have a rough hairy surface.

Prefers partial shade with humus-rich moist soil.

Prepare the planting site when soil is moist and easily worked after the first rains in autumn. This way the soil is still warm so plants can make root growth before the following summer. Always choose healthy, well-grown plants. Remove all perennial weeds and incorporate bark, compost or other organic material. On heavy soils, raise the level of beds and borders with extra topsoil and coarse pumice or sand. Before planting, ensure the root ball is saturated and remove the planter bag or pot with minimal root disturbance. Trim any broken roots and plant just a bit deeper than in the container. Dig a hole a bit bigger than the root ball put in the plant and firm around the base water in well.

With suitable preparation and care, perennials will grow and flower well year after year. They benefit from a weed-free well drained soil rich in organic material. Planting too closely leads to spindly growth, poor flowering and eventual decline. In a well planned border, the plants in flower should just touch each other to create a full effect without overcrowding. Apply an organic based fertiliser such as blood & bone at a handful per square metre in spring as new growth begins. Control slugs and snails to prevent damage to tender young shoots.

When planting under trees, select sites between large roots developing pockets and adding topsoil where necessary. Watering may be necessary until the plants become established and occasionally during periods of drought. In wet shaded areas, it is important to incorporate plenty of organic material.

When planting on steep banks, it is best to cover the area in a biodegradable weed mat e.g a wool-based product or wet newspapers and plant through it. These will eventually decompose by the time the ground covers will have grown into each other.

Apply mulch annually this will help suppress weeds and conserve moisture. Feed annually in spring with a balanced fertilizer such as blood and bone at a handful per square metre in spring as new growth begins. Water during dry summer periods to prolong flowering.

In winter clumps can be trimmed back to ground level and divided if required. Comfrey can make so much growth in one season they may even benefit from annual division but usually every few years should suffice. Lift the entire clump and separate by pushing two forks back to back into the centre of the clump and pushing apart. Replant the new plants from the new growth that was around the edge of the clump. This won't just reinvigorate your main plant but will provide plenty of new ones too.

Comfrey should not be harvested in its first season as it needs to become established. Any flowering stems should be removed as these will weaken the plant in its first year.

Attracts bees to your garden.

No pest and disease issues.

Urban Trees

Symphytum is well known to gardeners who are keen on green manures and compost teas. It is also used in homeopathic natural remedies believed to relieve rheumatic and arthritic conditions. So this hairy-leaved relative of borage has many more uses than just being an ornamental plant. But if you want simply to use Symphytum in a border or woodland it will reward you with excellent ground cover in shade or sun.