# wild comfrey (*Andersonglossum virginianum*) Wild comfrey is a lovely plant with big, fuzzy leaves and pretty purple flowers. It grows in fields and along roadsides, making nature look beautiful! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 7 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![wild comfrey](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Cynoglossum_virginianum_by_Todd_Crabtree_%288497631867%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cynoglossum_virginianum_by_Todd_Crabtree_%288497631867%29.jpg) ## Appearance The wild comfrey has delicate bell-shaped flowers, typically pale blue to white, sometimes starting pinkish. Its large, lance-shaped leaves are covered in fine, stiff hairs, giving them a fuzzy texture and a dull green appearance. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Boraginales - **Family:** Boraginaceae - **Genus:** Andersonglossum ## Interesting facts - Its seeds wear tiny velcro suits to hitch rides on fuzzy animals! - Look closely! Its flowers often start pink and change to blue as they get older! - The plant can drink water from super deep underground with its long roots! - Wild comfrey leaves are covered in soft hairs, making them feel fuzzy to the touch! ## Special abilities - **Underground Water Well:** This plant has a long, sturdy taproot that dives deep to find water and store nutrients, even in dry spells. - **Hairy Shield:** Its leaves are covered in fine, stiff hairs, which help protect it from hungry browsers and reduce water loss. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-90 cm - **Spread:** 15-30 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Moderate - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — browses leaves and stems - **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen - **Pollinates:** [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) — buzz pollinates its flowers - **Depends on:** Virginia Opossum (*Didelphis virginiana*) — disperses seeds on its fur ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Biennial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/biennial): Biennial plants complete their life cycle over two growing seasons, typically forming foliage in the first year and flowering/seeding in the second. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Always look but don't touch plants unless a grown-up says it's okay. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify wild comfrey? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is wild comfrey? 30-90 cm ### How wide does wild comfrey spread? 15-30 cm ### How big are the flowers on wild comfrey? 0.5-1 cm ### When does wild comfrey bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is wild comfrey edible? No ### Is wild comfrey toxic? Moderate ### What is wild comfrey's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Camp Misty Mount Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/camp-misty-mount-historic-district) — Maryland, US · Historic District - [Bernheim Forest and Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bernheim-forest-and-arboretum) — Kentucky, US · Botanical Garden - [Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/daniel-stowe-botanical-garden) — North Carolina, US · Botanical Garden - [Glenn Springs Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/glenn-springs-historic-district) — South Carolina, US · Historic District - [Great Falls Dam](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/great-falls-dam) — Tennessee, US · Historic Site - [Nickajack Cave](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/nickajack-cave) — Tennessee, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see wild comfrey](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/wild-comfrey) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Wild Comfrey: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/wild-comfrey)