Flora of Northern Ireland
Symphytum officinale
(Map updated: March 2008)
 

A tall, rank, bristly herbaceous perennial, with pale cream or purple, tubular flowers and a wing running down the stem below each leaf base. Probably native to Ireland.

This and the similar Symphytum x uplandicum are Northern Ireland's two commonest comfreys, found on river banks, roadsides and waste ground. S. officinale differs from S. x uplandicum by being more bristly and by the leaves being strongly decurrent down the stems (i.e. they have a winged stem below the leaves).

All names: Symphytum officinale L.