I have read that comfrey is very healthy for most farm animals. We have goats, rabbits, and chickens,and dogs; and I am interested in growing comfrey for them. But, the problem is, I don't even know what comfrey looks like. I only have a few herb books, none of them have comfrey listed. We live in the U.P. of Michigan, will comfrey even grow here? Thanks for all your help! Laura

-- Laura (themrs60@usa.net), March 22, 2001

Answers

IM in Mich,, over by Ludington,, and comfrey grows around here,,, though, it'll have to wait till the snow leaves

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), March 22, 2001.

Laura, even if you don't order from them Richters Herb catalog is a must have, they sell the herb, the seed, and the plants. www.richters.com

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), March 22, 2001.

Andy Lee in his Chicken Tractor book swears by comfrey. Sez it helps convert vegetable matter to protien and keeps critters healthy. If you can locate even a couple of roots then cut them up so a "hair" rootlet is on each section of root cutting you plant you'll be amazed at how productive your stand will be in a short time.

-- john (natlivent@pcpros.net), March 22, 2001.

Comfrey is pretty hardy. I purchased some and planted them in IA, right away we had a hard winter, the comfrey came up anyways. I dug it up when we moved to NE and it sat in a garbage bag and heated and wilted, etc. I planted it here and it came up... large green leaves. They say if you till it up, that the little peices will come back... so don't till unless you want it to take over. (I am assuming that it has to be established first :) ) I purchased roots, so I do not know how hard seed germination is. Plants prefer moist, fertile soils, full sun to part shade. Have fun with it! Brenda

-- Brenda (brenclark@alltel.net), March 23, 2001.

Comfrey isn't listed??? Wow... Its a great poultice for just about any cut or scratch - always add it to all my lotions and salves!!

I have never grown it, but am thinking about it. So, I can't tell you what it looks like... The dried root is white fleshed with black skin, though.

Rabbits love the stuff, and I would imagine the leaves to be good for most livestock, but I don't know. In some places, comfrey leaves are the main diets for rabbits. Its cheap (considered a weed by some) and very nutritious.

I have heard, though, that humans shouldn't injest too much.

-- Sue Diederich (willow666@rocketmail.com), March 23, 2001.

Comfrey is the herb no homestead should be without, great for livestock, healing wounds, makes a great tea, easily grown. e-mail me for any questions.

-- Bruce Burdge (comfreybruce@richmond.com), March 23, 2001.

Comfrey should grown anywhere in the U.S. The plant is about three feet across and about 2 1/2 feet high. The leaves grow to about two feet long and about 4 to 6 inches wide at the widest point. The deep green leaves have little pointy hairs on them that make the leaf feel rough and stickery. They have beautiful purple flowers on them in the late Spring. The plant dies back in the fall and new shoots emerge in early Spring. The plant spreads by the roots, so if you want to contain it, you must plant in a pot. A piece of root stuck in the ground will grow and it is very difficult to get rid of if you don't want it.

All of my poultry love to eat it. The geese especially will eat the plant down to the ground and the plant will rebound several times during the growing season.

-- Mary in East TN (barnwood@preferred.com), March 25, 2001.

Will it grow in the shade? Or does it need sun? Trees everywhere here.

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), March 25, 2001.

We grow comfrey here in Maine. It grows well and yes if you til it under or if you plow it up it will SPREAD! Mom hasit all over her garden now. Dad plowed up the garden with the horses and they spread it everywhere. I planted a small root from their bunch. I planted it next to the metal pipe for the deep well. It has taken me 2 years to get a good plant from it. I think it has to do with the metal pipe. Dad has diabetes and 3 years ago he broke his ankle in 3 places. THe docs wrapped itup and told him to keep an eye on it. Well it kept swelling up. 3 Months later the ankle is still broken and the docs are planning to drill and put in pins. Dad started to apply comfrey to the ankle. It was ground into a pulp and applied directly on the site. 3 weeks later, the docs took more xrays. THe ankle completely healed. THe docs wouldn't believe that the plant did the healing. But we belive. Dad is now going blind from diabetes and loosing the feelings in his feet. Wonder if a tea made from comfrey would help those areas?

-- michelle (tsjheath@ainop.com), March 26, 2001.