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Herbaceous Perennial

Symphytum × uplandicum 'Axminster Gold' (v)

Russian comfrey 'Axminster Gold'

Upright, bristly perennial to 90cm in height, with textured, oblong leaves 15-25cm in length, grey-green with a broad golden-yellow margin. Small tubular pale lilac-pink flowers are carried in terminal clusters, over a long period from late spring to summer

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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.5–1 metres

Clay

Loam

Chalk

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Boraginaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming
Potentially harmful: Harmful if eaten repeatedly. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling Pets (rabbits, rodents): Harmful if eaten repeatedly - for further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus: Symphytum are rhizomatous herbaceous perennials, sometimes invasive, with large leaves and nodding clusters of tubular flowers
Name status: Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile, moist soil in sun or partial shade. Be aware the plant growth can be vigorous once established and it has the potential to become a nuisance, so may require appropriate management

Propagation

Propagate by division of fleshy roots in spring. Propagate by root cuttings in early winter

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Wildlife gardens
Ground cover

Pruning

Cut down flower stems when faded to tidy and encourage further flowers

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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