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GrowByCity
Herb Full Sun to Partial Shade Regular water

Comfrey

Written by the GrowByCity Editorial Team · Updated April 2026
2 min read

Deep-rooted herb used as compost activator and mulch. Hardy enough to withstand light frosts down to -15°C, comfrey performs best when daytime temperatures stay between 12°C and 24°C. It needs full sun to partial shade and regular watering to keep soil consistently moist — leaves are ready for picking in about 60-90 days. A kitchen essential that grows equally well on a sunny windowsill, a balcony pot, or a dedicated herb bed.

Harvest 60-90 days
Temp Range -15°C — 30°C
Frost Tolerant ❄

Quick Answer: How to Grow Comfrey

Comfrey takes 60-90 days to harvest. It grows best in 12–24°C with full sun to partial shade and regular watering. Comfrey is frost tolerant and can handle temperatures down to -15°C. It can be grown in 350 cities worldwide.

Find the best time to plant Comfrey in your city →

Growing Requirements

☀️
Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
💧
Water
Regular
❄️
Frost
Tolerant
📅
Harvest
60-90 days

Temperature Range

12-24°C
-10°C 45°C
Optimal: 12–24°C Tolerates: -15–30°C
Tropical suitable: No
Cities growing: 350 of 350

Growing Tips

💡

Expert Tips

Plant Bocking 14 variety (non-spreading). Chop and drop as mulch 4-5 times per season. Can be planted 2-3 weeks before the last expected frost, giving it a head start on the growing season. Aim for about 2.5 cm of water per week, adjusting for rainfall. Organic mulch around the base helps maintain even moisture.

Quick Facts

  • Grows in 350 of 350 cities
  • Available in 7 regions worldwide
  • Temperature range: -15°C to 30°C
  • Optimal growing: 12°C to 24°C
  • Harvest in 60-90 days

Did You Know?

  • 🌱 Comfrey is frost-tolerant, meaning it can survive light frosts and even thrive in cooler temperatures.

Step-by-Step Growing Guide

Always grow comfrey from the 'Bocking 14' strain (Symphytum x uplandicum 'Bocking 14') — this sterile hybrid does not set seed and will not spread invasively. Avoid seed-grown comfrey, which produces fertile seed and can become a near-ineradicable weed. Plant Bocking 14 root cuttings (offsets) 2–4 inches deep in well-drained, deeply prepared soil with a pH of 5.5–7.5. Its extraordinary taproot reaches 6 feet deep, mining minerals from deep subsoil layers unavailable to other plants. Space 3 feet apart; plants spread to 4–5 feet wide at maturity. Water during establishment then leave to its own devices — established comfrey is remarkably drought-tolerant. Do not fertilize; its deep roots access all necessary nutrients independently. The primary use in a garden is as a dynamic accumulator: cut the leaves and use as mulch, compost activator, or steep in water for 3–6 weeks to make a nutrient-rich liquid fertilizer. Cut back completely 3–5 times per season.

Common Pests & Problems

Comfrey rust (Melampsorella symphyti) causes orange pustules on leaf undersides in humid conditions — cut affected plants to the ground and they will resprout clean. Comfrey is otherwise extraordinarily pest and disease-resistant. The main management concern is inappropriate variety selection: seed-grown common comfrey (Symphytum officinale) spreads by root fragments, and even a tiny piece of root left in the soil regenerates. If established in the wrong location, removal requires multiple years of persistent digging and all root fragments must be removed. Slugs and snails occasionally damage young spring regrowth — apply iron phosphate bait.

Harvest & Storage

Cut comfrey leaves at any time during the growing season using gloves (leaf hairs can irritate sensitive skin). For compost use, chop leaves and layer into the compost heap — they accelerate decomposition due to high nitrogen content. For liquid fertilizer, pack leaves into a bucket, weigh down, cover with water, and steep for 4–6 weeks; dilute the resulting dark liquid 15:1 before applying to plants as a potassium-rich fertilizer particularly beneficial to fruiting crops. For medicinal topical use (root or leaf preparations), this requires specific processing — internal use of comfrey is contraindicated due to pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can cause liver damage.

Popular Varieties

Bocking 14 (Symphytum x uplandicum 'Bocking 14') is the only recommended variety for home garden use — it is a sterile hybrid with the highest potassium content of all comfrey selections, specifically selected for garden biomass production at the Henry Doubleday Research Association (now Garden Organic). Symphytum officinale (common comfrey) should only be planted where containment is absolute — it spreads invasively by both seed and root. Symphytum caucasicum (blue comfrey) is a smaller, ornamental relative with blue flowers and less aggressive spreading habit, sometimes used in woodland gardens.

Where to Grow Comfrey

Comfrey can be grown in 350 cities across 7 regions worldwide

🌍

Europe

80 cities
🌏

Asia

79 cities
🌎

North America

78 cities
🌍

Africa

39 cities
🌎

South America

39 cities
🌊

Oceania

19 cities
🕌

Middle East

16 cities

🌍 Europe (80 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Aarhus, DK medium
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Amsterdam, NL medium
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Ankara, TR medium
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Antalya, TR medium
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Athens, GR medium
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Barcelona, ES medium
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Bari, IT medium
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Belgrade, RS medium
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Bergen, NO medium
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Berlin, DE medium
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Bilbao, ES medium
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Bologna, IT medium
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Bordeaux, FR medium
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Bratislava, SK medium
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Brussels, BE medium
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Bucharest, RO medium
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Budapest, HU medium
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Catania, IT medium
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Cologne, DE medium
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Copenhagen, DK medium
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Corfu, GR medium
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Cork, IE medium
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Dublin, IE medium
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Dubrovnik, HR medium
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Edinburgh, GB medium
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Florence, IT medium
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Frankfurt, DE medium
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Gdansk, PL medium
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Genoa, IT medium
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Glasgow, GB medium
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Gothenburg, SE medium
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Hamburg, DE medium
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Helsinki, FI medium
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Heraklion, GR medium
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Istanbul, TR medium
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Izmir, TR medium
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Krakow, PL medium
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Kyiv, UA medium
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Limassol, CY medium
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Lisbon, PT medium
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Ljubljana, SI medium
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London, GB medium
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Lyon, FR medium
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Madrid, ES medium
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Malaga, ES medium
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Marseille, FR medium
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Milan, IT medium
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Munich, DE medium
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Naples, IT medium
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Nice, FR medium
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Nicosia, CY medium
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Oslo, NO medium
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Palermo, IT medium
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Paris, FR medium
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Porto, PT medium
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Poznan, PL medium
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Prague, CZ medium
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Reykjavik, IS medium
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Riga, LV medium
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Rome, IT medium
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Seville, ES medium
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Sofia, BG medium
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Split, HR medium
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Stockholm, SE medium
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Strasbourg, FR medium
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Stuttgart, DE medium
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Tallinn, EE medium
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Thessaloniki, GR medium
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Tirana, AL medium
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Toulouse, FR medium
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Turin, IT medium
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Turku, FI medium
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Valencia, ES medium
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Valletta, MT medium
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Verona, IT medium
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Vienna, AT medium
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Vilnius, LT medium
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Warsaw, PL medium
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Zagreb, HR medium
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Zurich, CH medium
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🌏 Asia (79 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Ahmedabad, IN medium
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Almaty, KZ medium
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Bali, ID medium
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Bandung, ID medium
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Bangalore, IN medium
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Bangkok, TH medium
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Beijing, CN medium
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Busan, KR medium
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Cebu, PH medium
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Chandigarh, IN medium
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Chengdu, CN medium
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Chennai, IN medium
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Chiang Mai, TH medium
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Chittagong, BD medium
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Chongqing, CN medium
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Coimbatore, IN medium
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Colombo, LK medium
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Da Nang, VN medium
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Dalian, CN medium
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Davao, PH medium
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Delhi, IN medium
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Dhaka, BD medium
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Dharan, NP medium
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Fukuoka, JP medium
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Galle, LK medium
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Guangzhou, CN medium
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Hangzhou, CN medium
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Hanoi, VN medium
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Harbin, CN medium
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Ho Chi Minh City, VN medium
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Hong Kong, HK medium
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Hyderabad, IN medium
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Incheon, KR medium
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Indore, IN medium
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Islamabad, PK medium
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Jaipur, IN medium
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Jakarta, ID medium
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Jeju, KR medium
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Johor Bahru, MY medium
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Karachi, PK medium
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Kathmandu, NP medium
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Kochi, IN medium
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Kolkata, IN medium
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Kuala Lumpur, MY medium
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Kunming, CN medium
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Kyoto, JP medium
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Lahore, PK medium
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Lucknow, IN medium
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Manila, PH medium
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Mumbai, IN medium
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Nagoya, JP medium
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Nanjing, CN medium
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Nha Trang, VN medium
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Okinawa, JP medium
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Osaka, JP medium
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Pattaya, TH medium
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Penang, MY medium
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Phnom Penh, KH medium
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Pune, IN medium
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Sapporo, JP medium
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Seoul, KR medium
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Shanghai, CN medium
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Shenzhen, CN medium
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Siem Reap, KH medium
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Singapore, SG medium
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Surabaya, ID medium
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Surat, IN medium
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Taipei, TW medium
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Tashkent, UZ medium
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Tbilisi, GE medium
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Tokyo, JP medium
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Ulaanbaatar, MN medium
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Varanasi, IN medium
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Vientiane, LA medium
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Visakhapatnam, IN medium
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Wuhan, CN medium
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Xi'an, CN medium
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Xiamen, CN medium
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Yangon, MM medium
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🌎 North America (78 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Albuquerque, US medium
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Anchorage, US medium
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Atlanta, US medium
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Austin, US medium
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Baltimore, US medium
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Baton Rouge, US medium
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Boise, US medium
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Boston, US medium
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Bridgetown, BB medium
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Buffalo, US medium
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Calgary, CA medium
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Cancun, MX medium
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Charleston, US medium
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Charlotte, US medium
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Chattanooga, US medium
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Chicago, US medium
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Denver, US medium
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Des Moines, US medium
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Detroit, US medium
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Edmonton, CA medium
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El Paso, US medium
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Fargo, US medium
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Fresno, US medium
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Guadalajara, MX medium
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Halifax, CA medium
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Hartford, US medium
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Havana, CU medium
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Honolulu, US medium
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Houston, US medium
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Jacksonville, US medium
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Kansas City, US medium
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Kingston, JM medium
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Knoxville, US medium
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Las Vegas, US medium
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Little Rock, US medium
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Los Angeles, US medium
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Louisville, US medium
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Lubbock, US medium
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Madison, US medium
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Memphis, US medium
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Mexico City, MX medium
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Miami, US medium
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Milwaukee, US medium
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Minneapolis, US medium
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Monterrey, MX medium
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Montreal, CA medium
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Nashville, US medium
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New Orleans, US medium
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New York, US medium
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Oaxaca, MX medium
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Oklahoma City, US medium
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Omaha, US medium
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Ottawa, CA medium
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Panama City, PA medium
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Phoenix, US medium
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Pittsburgh, US medium
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Portland, US medium
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Puebla, MX medium
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Quebec City, CA medium
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Raleigh, US medium
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Richmond, US medium
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Sacramento, US medium
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Salt Lake City, US medium
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San Diego, US medium
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San Francisco, US medium
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San Jose, CR medium
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Santo Domingo, DO medium
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Saskatoon, CA medium
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Savannah, US medium
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Seattle, US medium
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Spokane, US medium
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St. Louis, US medium
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Tampa, US medium
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Toronto, CA medium
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Tucson, US medium
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Vancouver, CA medium
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Victoria, CA medium
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Winnipeg, CA medium
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🌍 Africa (39 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Abidjan, CI medium
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Accra, GH medium
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Addis Ababa, ET medium
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Algiers, DZ medium
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Antananarivo, MG medium
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Arusha, TZ medium
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Bamako, ML medium
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Bloemfontein, ZA medium
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Cairo, EG medium
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Cape Town, ZA medium
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Casablanca, MA medium
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Dakar, SN medium
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Dar es Salaam, TZ medium
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Douala, CM medium
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Durban, ZA medium
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Entebbe, UG medium
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Fez, MA medium
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Freetown, SL medium
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Harare, ZW medium
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Johannesburg, ZA medium
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Kampala, UG medium
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Kigali, RW medium
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Kinshasa, CD medium
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Lagos, NG medium
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Libreville, GA medium
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Lilongwe, MW medium
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Lome, TG medium
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Luanda, AO medium
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Lusaka, ZM medium
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Maputo, MZ medium
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Marrakech, MA medium
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Mombasa, KE medium
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Nairobi, KE medium
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Ouagadougou, BF medium
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Port Louis, MU medium
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Pretoria, ZA medium
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Tunis, TN medium
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Windhoek, NA medium
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Zanzibar, TZ medium
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🌎 South America (39 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Arequipa, PE medium
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Asuncion, PY medium
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Barranquilla, CO medium
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Belem, BR medium
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Bogota, CO medium
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Brasilia, BR medium
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Buenos Aires, AR medium
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Cali, CO medium
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Campinas, BR medium
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Caracas, VE medium
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Cartagena, CO medium
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Concepcion, CL medium
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Cordoba, AR medium
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Curitiba, BR medium
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Cusco, PE medium
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Fortaleza, BR medium
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Georgetown, GY medium
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Goiania, BR medium
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Guayaquil, EC medium
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La Paz, BO medium
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Lima, PE medium
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Manaus, BR medium
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Medellin, CO medium
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Mendoza, AR medium
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Montevideo, UY medium
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Paramaribo, SR medium
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Port of Spain, TT medium
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Porto Alegre, BR medium
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Quito, EC medium
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Recife, BR medium
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Rio de Janeiro, BR medium
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Rosario, AR medium
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Salvador, BR medium
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Santa Cruz, BO medium
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Santiago, CL medium
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Sao Paulo, BR medium
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Sucre, BO medium
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Trujillo, PE medium
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Valparaiso, CL medium
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🌊 Oceania (19 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Adelaide, AU medium
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Alice Springs, AU medium
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Auckland, NZ medium
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Brisbane, AU medium
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Cairns, AU medium
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Canberra, AU medium
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Christchurch, NZ medium
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Darwin, AU medium
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Dunedin, NZ medium
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Gold Coast, AU medium
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Hamilton, NZ medium
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Hobart, AU medium
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Melbourne, AU medium
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Noumea, NC medium
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Perth, AU medium
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Suva, FJ medium
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Sydney, AU medium
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Townsville, AU medium
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Wellington, NZ medium
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🕌 Middle East (16 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Abu Dhabi, AE medium
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Amman, JO medium
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Baghdad, IQ medium
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Beirut, LB medium
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Doha, QA medium
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Dubai, AE medium
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Erbil, IQ medium
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Jeddah, SA medium
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Kuwait City, KW medium
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Manama, BH medium
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Muscat, OM medium
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Riyadh, SA medium
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Sana'a, YE medium
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Tabriz, IR medium
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Tehran, IR medium
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Tel Aviv, IL medium
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When should I plant comfrey in my city?

The best time to plant comfrey depends on your local climate zone. It thrives in temperatures between 12°C and 24°C. Since comfrey is frost tolerant, you can plant it before the last frost date. Check your city's planting calendar on GrowByCity for exact dates.

Can I grow comfrey in winter?

Yes, comfrey is frost tolerant and can handle temperatures down to -15°C. In many climates, it can be grown through winter with some protection.

Get Comfrey Seeds & Plants

Ready to start growing? Find Comfrey seeds and starter plants online.

Shop on Burpee Search on Amazon

People Also Search For

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Rosemary

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Cilantro

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Lavender

Herb · Full Sun

15-28°C

Frequently Asked Questions about Comfrey

When should I plant comfrey?

The best time to plant comfrey depends on your local climate. Comfrey grows best in temperatures between 12°C and 24°C (can tolerate -15°C to 30°C). Comfrey is frost tolerant, so it can be planted earlier in spring or later in fall. Check your city's planting calendar on GrowByCity for exact planting months.

Can comfrey grow in tropical climates?

Comfrey is not well-suited for tropical climates. It prefers cooler conditions with temperatures between 12°C and 24°C. In tropical areas, it may bolt, fail to fruit, or suffer from heat stress. Consider growing it in cooler seasons or at higher elevations.

How long does comfrey take to grow?

Comfrey typically takes 60-90 days from planting to harvest. It requires full sun to partial shade and regular watering. Plant Bocking 14 variety (non-spreading). Chop and drop as mulch 4-5 times per season. Can be planted 2-3 weeks before the last expected frost, giving it a head start on the growing season. Aim for about 2.5 cm of water per week, adjusting for rainfall. Organic mulch around the base helps maintain even moisture.

Find the Best Time to Plant Comfrey

See the planting calendar for Comfrey in these popular cities:

London, GBMumbai, INNew York, USParis, FRSingapore, SGSydney, AUTokyo, JPToronto, CA

Last updated: March 2026 · Climate data from NOAA, FAO, USDA

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