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Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: InfraDig on May 24, 2010, 23:14:34

Title: Comfrey or Borage?
Post by: InfraDig on May 24, 2010, 23:14:34
I think this is "Russian" comfrey:

(http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/gallery/9252_24_05_10_11_05_49.JPG)

and I always thought that this was a comfrey too:

(http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/gallery/9252_24_05_10_11_08_51.JPG)

but a friend is telling me it is borage. Any ideas? Thank you very much.
Title: Re: Comfrey or Borage?
Post by: macmac on May 24, 2010, 23:41:08
I'm confused the blue flower says borage to me but my comfrey has a purple flower  ???
Title: Re: Comfrey or Borage?
Post by: manicscousers on May 25, 2010, 08:27:27
our borage has star shaped flowers, the leaves taste of cucumber, don't know if it helps  ;D
Title: Re: Comfrey or Borage?
Post by: caroline7758 on May 25, 2010, 08:32:48
I've got lots of borage seedlings coming up and the leaves are lighter green and more rounded than my comfrey, but I guess varieties vary?
Title: Re: Comfrey or Borage?
Post by: Bugloss2009 on May 25, 2010, 08:57:36
the blue flower is Alkanet, or rather Green Alkanet. In the Borage family, along with Comfrey
Title: Re: Comfrey or Borage?
Post by: aquilegia on May 25, 2010, 17:29:08
That's definitely Not borage. This is borage: http://en.fotolia.com/id/4170200
Title: Re: Comfrey or Borage?
Post by: Digeroo on May 25, 2010, 17:40:52
Comfrey is very free in its colour of flowering.   It grows wild around here and comes in all shades of pink, purple and blue and the occassional white.  Often they change colour as they open so the young flowers are pink and the older ones blue.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Russian_comfrey_close_800.jpg



Title: Re: Comfrey or Borage?
Post by: Baccy Man on May 25, 2010, 17:49:00
The white flowered plant in the first photo looks like comfrey but it does not look like russian comfrey it is more like either Symphytum Album (http://www.findmeplants.co.uk/plant-symphytum--1853.aspx) or possibly Symphytum Orientale (http://www.ukwildflowers.com/Web_pages/symphytum_orientale_white_comfrey.htm).
The blue flowered plant in the second photo is almost certainly green alkanet (http://www.dgsgardening.btinternet.co.uk/green%20alkanet.htm).