Common Name: Prickly Comfrey

General Information

Symphytum asperum is a herbaceous perennial plant with strongly-branching stems that are covered with short bristles; the plant can grow up to 150cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.

Known Hazards

No reports of toxicity have been seen for this species, but the following reports have been seen for Symphytum officinale.
This plant contains small quantities of a toxic alkaloid which can have a cumulative effect upon the liver. Largest concentrations are found in the roots, leaves contain higher quantities of the alkaloid as they grow older and young leaves contain almost none. Most people would have to consume very large quantities of the plant in order to do any harm, though anyone with liver problems should obviously be more cautious. In general, the health-promoting properties of the plant probably far outweigh any possible disbenefits, especially if only the younger leaves are used.

Botanical References

, ,

Range

W. Asia - Turkey, the Caucasus, Iran

Habitat

Waste places in Britain[]. Damp places in mountains, banks of small rivers and streams, edges of
forest, meadows, from foothills to the subalpine belt[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.50 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Symphytum asperum is a fairly cold-hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to about -20°c[].
Tolerates most soils and situations but prefers a moist soil and some shade[, ]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Best grown in an open sunny site in a deep rich soil if it is being grown for compost material[].
Plants can be invasive, often spreading freely by means of self-sown seed. They are also very difficult to remove, the root system is very deep and even small fragments of root left in the soil can produce new plants.

Edible Uses

The following reports are for Symphytum officinale, they are said to also apply to this species[].

Young leaves - cooked or raw[, , , , , ]. The leaf is hairy and the texture is mucilaginous. It may be full of minerals but it is not pleasant eating for most tastes. It can be chopped up finely and added to salads, in this way the hairiness is not so obvious[].

Young shoots can be used as an asparagus substitute[]. The blanched stalks are used[].

Older leaves can be dried and used as a tea[].

The peeled roots are cut up and added to soups[].

A tea is made from the dried leaves and roots[].

The roasted roots are used with dandelion and chicory roots for making coffee[].

Medicinal

The leaves are anodyne, mildly astringent, demulcent, emollient, expectorant, haemostatic, refrigerant and vulnerary. Internally, they are used as a tea in the treatment of chest complaints.
They are used as an external poultice in the treatment of cuts, bruises and sprains.
The plant contains a substance called 'allantoin', a cell proliferant that speeds up the healing process[, , , ].
The leaves are harvested in the summer and can be used fresh or dried.

Agroforestry Uses:

The following reports are for Symphytum officinale, they are said to also apply to this species[].

The plant grows very quickly, producing a lot of bulk. It is tolerant of being cut several times a year and can be used to provide 'instant compost' for crops such as potatoes. Simply layer the wilted leaves at the bottom of the potato trench or apply them as a mulch in no-dig gardens. A liquid feed can be obtained by soaking the leaves in a small amount of water for a week, excellent for potassium demanding crops such as tomatoes. The leaves are also a very valuable addition to the compost heap[, ].

Other Uses

The following reports are for Symphytum officinale, they are said to also apply to this species[].

A gum obtained from the roots was at one time used in the treatment of wool before it was spun[].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring or autumn in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
If you have sufficient seed you can try an outdoor sowing in situ in the spring.
Division succeeds at almost any time of the year. Simply use a spade to chop off the top 7cm of root just below the soil level. The original root will regrow and you will have a number of root tops, each of which will make a new plant. These can either be potted up or planted out straight into their permanent positions.