Bocking 14 Russian Comfrey is a sterile hybrid that will not set seed but can still spread if its roots are disturbed. Comfrey has long been a favorite of ecological minded gardeners and farmers for building soil and bringing nutrients to the surface as a chop and drop mulch.

Though it has suffered from some bad press throughout the years, comfrey’s medicinal use as well as its use as a dynamic accumulator companion plant, green mulch fertilizer and herbal insecticide far outweigh its reputation as an “invasive spreader.”

The key to keeping comfrey in its place is as simple as putting up a “Do not disturb” sign. When the roots of the plant are disturbed (through tilling or hoeing) it triggers a self-preservation response from the plant, causing the root system to send up many new shoots to ensure its survival.

The Bocking 14 cultivar is a sterile variety and will not produce seeds.

Botanical Name: Symphytum x uplandicum ‘Bocking 14’
Site and Soil: Full sun; well-draining soil
Lifecycle: Perennial
Plant Spacing: 3 ft.
Pollination Requirements: Sterile; will not produce seeds
Hardiness:  Minus 40°  F
Size at Maturity: 4 ft. tall
Bloom Time: April-September
Ripening Time: n/a
Yield: n/a
Pests & Diseases: None
USDA Zone: 3-9

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