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White comfrey, or pulmonaria?

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  • White comfrey, or pulmonaria?

    I spotted something growing in a ditch which I thought was white comfrey. When I looked that up I found it is quite rare in the UK. The closest other plant I could find that might fit what I saw is white pulmonaria.

    How can I tell the difference? It was low growing under an overgrown thorn hedge, and I couldn't see distinct spots on the leaves. Will take my camera on Sunday and get a pic or two.
    Location - Leicestershire - Chisit-land
    Endless wonder.

  • #2
    Pulmonaria grows to about half the size of comfrey in my experience. And the leaves are slightly different shapes - comfrey being much longer and more sword shaped. Apparently you can make pulmonaria feed in the same way as comfrey
    Whooops - now what are the dogs getting up to?

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    • #3
      Pulmonaria does have a spotted leaf. Comfrey to my knowledge does not. Do you have a pic?
      Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better...Albert Einstein

      Blog - @Twotheridge: For The Record - Sowing and Growing with a Virgin Veg Grower: Spring Has Now Sprung...Boing! http://vvgsowingandgrowing2012.blogs....html?spref=tw

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      • #4
        I don't think White-flowered Comfrey is that rare - we get all colours round here from deepest purple through blueish shades and pinkish to white. If it's growing wild I'd guess at Comfrey. Either way i'd want some - I like Pulmonaria too, and used to have several.
        All the best - Glutton 4 Punishment
        Freelance shrub butcher and weed removal operative.

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        • #5
          I have white comfrey in the garden - don't know where it came from and it seems to be self seeding as there are several clumps in obscure corners, all at some distance apart.

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          • #6
            white comfrey isn't rare

            in fact it's called 'common comfrey' symphytum officinale
            Last edited by Two_Sheds; 14-04-2012, 09:10 AM.
            All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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            • #7
              Comfrey leaves are very rough and spear shaped.
              Gardening requires a lot of water - most of it in the form of perspiration. Lou Erickson, critic and poet

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              • #8
                ^ and easily confused with foxgloves before they flower
                All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by Two_Sheds View Post
                  white comfrey isn't rare

                  in fact it's called 'common comfrey' symphytum officinale
                  This is the one I thought it might be. Forgot my camera this a.m. But I WILL get pics - promise.
                  Location - Leicestershire - Chisit-land
                  Endless wonder.

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Glutton4... View Post
                    I don't think White-flowered Comfrey is that rare - we get all colours round here from deepest purple through blueish shades and pinkish to white. If it's growing wild I'd guess at Comfrey. Either way i'd want some - I like Pulmonaria too, and used to have several.
                    I do want some of this, it is very pretty, but don't want to go taking a trowel to it if it's rare in Leicestershire. If it's pumonaria I'll dig up a big clump.

                    I like the idea that I can make feed from pulmonaria the same way as comfrey, I've got a big patch of the common one in the garden that makes masses of leaves.
                    Location - Leicestershire - Chisit-land
                    Endless wonder.

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                    • #11
                      Ah, interesting. Symphytum orientale, looks like S.officinale

                      This site says it's widespread, lol !

                      I thought of this thread a couple of hours ago when I walked the dog past a huge patch. I'll take a picture next time and see which one it is
                      All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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                      • #12
                        Here's the white comfrey in my garden:

                        Is this the plant you've seen in the wild, mothhawk?
                        Attached Files

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                        • #13
                          Originally posted by veggiechicken View Post
                          Here's the white comfrey in my garden:
                          [ATTACH=CONFIG]28542[/ATTACH]
                          Is this the plant you've seen in the wild, mothhawk?
                          Ah, thanks for this definitive pic VC. No, the flowers are much closer to the ground on the plant I saw - must be white flowered pulmonaria then. Very pretty though.
                          Location - Leicestershire - Chisit-land
                          Endless wonder.

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                          • #14
                            Well, I've taken a couple of photos, and now I'm not sure again. The flower stems have grown taller since I last looked at it. It smells a bit cucumbery when you bruise a leaf. I'm thinking maybe it is comfrey?



                            Attached Files
                            Location - Leicestershire - Chisit-land
                            Endless wonder.

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                            • #15
                              sorry-I still can't tell!

                              Just a thought though- comfrey is pretty hairy underneath isn't it? Not so sure about pulmonaria.
                              "Nicos, Queen of Gooooogle" and... GYO's own Miss Marple

                              Location....Normandy France

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