Bocking 14 Comfrey

Symphytum x uplandicum 'Bocking 14'

herb

Bocking 14 is a sterile strain of Russian comfrey grown not for the plate but for the garden: deep roots mine minerals from the subsoil into fast-growing leaves that make superb mulch and liquid feed. Because it sets no seed it stays put instead of spreading like seeding comfreys, and its early bell-shaped flowers are valuable bee forage.

✅ Plant alongside

Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests

• Apple — Planted at the base of fruit trees it mulches and feeds them as a living fertilizer
• Tomato — Comfrey leaf mulch or tea delivers a potassium boost for fruiting
• Squash — Heavy feeders thrive on a side-dressing of nutrient-rich comfrey leaves

🛡️ Pest & disease prevention

Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide

• Slugs →

  Comfrey is rarely damaged; set traps if nearby seedlings are at risk

🌾 Harvest & storage

Cut leaves with gloves, since the hairs can irritate, a few inches above the crown, two to five times a season once plants are a year old. Wilt the leaves before using as mulch, or steep them in water for a few weeks to make a potent liquid feed.

🥗 Nutrition & benefits

Grown for the garden rather than the table, comfrey leaves make a potassium-rich mulch and liquid fertilizer, and the early flowers are vital bee nectar. It is not recommended for internal use.

⚠️ Toxicity & safety

Use with caution - external use only. Comfrey leaves and roots contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can damage the liver, so it is not taken internally (no comfrey tea, and do not eat it). It is grown mainly as a compost and mulch plant and traditionally applied to intact skin only. Do not ingest it, and keep it away from children and pets.