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Tuberous Comfrey Scientific Name: Symphytum tuberosum Other name: Knitbone Family: Boraginaceae This perennial is a native of mainland Britain, but is a garden escapee in Ireland. It prefers damp, woodland shade or riverbanks, but will grow in most situations. It can be quite invasive, but looks well in a larger, woodland setting. The broad, pointed basal leaves are covered in soft hairs. The stem which usually are not branched, also have hairs and the mid-stem leaves are larger than the lower ones. As the name suggests, the perenniating underground parts are fleshy rhizomes. The pale yellow, tubular flowers appear in small clusters in May and June, held above the foliage on 20-25mm long stems. Tuberous Comfrey shares the properties of the other Comfries so has been used as a medicinal herb, possibly as a poultice - hence the name, Knitbone. The young leaves can be cooked as a pot-herb. The tuberous rhizomes make it very difficult to eradicate completely by digging it up as any small fragments left behind soon regrow. Weedkillers to use:- Glyphosate is systemic so is taken down to the roots. Other plants with similar leaves include Comfrey, Borage, Foxglove and Green Alkanet. Follow these links for further details on Weeds, Weed Removal and Weed Prevention.