SYMPHYTUM. Comfrey. Europe, the Caucasus, Iran. You may have known the old-fashioned comfrey (S. officinale) for its traditional medicinal uses, until it was indicted as a possible carcinogen. Both it and its cousins are perennials of the borage family, sharing several ornamental features. They have large, usually broad and stiffly hairy basal leaves and produce taller, leafy flower stems. The flowers are arranged in scorpioid clusters (curled at the ends and unrolling as they develop). They are tubular, often bell-shaped, and variously colored. The comfreys are used in borders and as decorative ground covers. They thrive in sun or light shade but need rich, well-watered soils. Some are invasive, though drought limits their spread. They are hardy to 0^oF. or less.

azureum. This is one of the most attractive of the comfreys, having low, clustered crowns of large (to 8") grey-green leaves, 12-16" stems and soft true-blue flowers.

rubrum. This is thought to be a hybrid involving a red-flowered form of the common comfrey (S. officinale). It has large, dark green basal leaves, stems up to 1½’ high, and nodding deep pink, narrowly bell-shaped flowers about 3/4" long.