Characteristics:
Wild Comfrey is a distinctive forest species. It is easily identified by its broad oval, somewhat fuzzy leaves, sparsely flowered, coiling clusters at the tip of the stem, densely hairy stem, upper leaves clasping the stem, and bristly fruits.
Habitat:
Rocky woods, Oak-Hickory forests, bottomlands, hollows
Ecology:
All of the Cynoglossum species are strongly adapted to regular, low-intensity fire in the landscape. Germination improves dramatically in open ground without competition from the seeds of other species. While mature plants can thrive in the shade, young plants benefit from more sunlight. Like many plants in the Borage family, Wild Comfrey has a thick, fleshy root system that can endure cropping or burning. Low-intensity burning does not harm adult plants, and clears the surrounding area for their children to germinate and flourish.
Medicinal Properties:
Wild Comfrey has a long and illustrious history as a valued medicinal herb. For several thousand years Americans have used Cynoglossum to treat a host of ailments. Cancer, gonorrhea, and genital itching have been helped by drinking a tea made from the roots of the plant. Root syrup has been used to treat cloudy urine. Wild Comfrey is an ingredient in the Cherokee Green Corn Medicine preparation. Traditional uses for the leaves as a cured smoke, like tobacco, have developed in more recent times Wild Comfrey is a relation of the Eurasian Comfreys (Symphytum spp.) It is a strongly medicinal plant, but the medicine is different than its Old World cousin.
Etymology:
Cynoglossum means ‘dog-tongue’ in Greek. The shape and thickness of the leaves apparently suggested this particular shape to the people who named the genus.
Cynoglossum virginianum
Wild Comfrey
Family: Boraginaceae
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Height: 1’ - 2’
Spread: 1’ - 2’
Bloom: Pale Blue, April to June
Water: Medium
Sunlight: Full sun to part shade
Tolerates: Deer, drought, fire
