Is it possible to tell what type of comfrey this is? Bocking 14 hopefully!

January Man

Hi all

I recently moved house.  I was lucky enough to find someone local in the last house who kindly gave me some roots of her organic Bocking 14, which I planted and used a lot before moving.  

I haven't found any locally yet to use in the new garden.  To be honest, I haven't started looking properly yet.  But there is some comfrey already in the garden.  The trouble is I don't know what type it is and I wondered if anyone can tell from looking whether or not it is Bocking 14.  If further pics would help identify, please let me know and I'll take them and post them up.  

I'd really like to dig some of the comfrey into the ground where I'll be growing, but don't want to risk spreading it everywhere if it is a fertile type.

Many thanks

Grannybee

It looks like one I have which just appeared from nowhere. Bees adore it. It is very well behaved in that it has not spread seeds everywhere. When it has finished flowering I cut the leaves and make comfrey fertiliser juice and dump the rest on the compost heap. Within 3 weeks it has another flush of leaves but does not flower again. No idea if that is Bocking 14!!

January Man

Thanks Grannybee.  I intend to do pretty much the same as you are doing.  In fact, that's what I was doing in my previous garden.  Just trying to get to the bottom of whether it is Bocking 14 or not though so that I know if it is going to spread and take over the garden! 

Ta

Helix

Unless someone specifically grew it then it’s unlikely, and can’t really tell from flower colour. Most probably just the normal native comfrey as leaves are quite elongated, so if you try not to let it set seed too much you’ll be fine as it’s not as prolific as some of the decorative varieties.   We have the natural comfrey and a decorative variety, and I cut them back probably a week earlier than those in your photo, and they are not really a problem.  The decorative one can be a thug as also spreads by roots, but it's so pretty and the insects love it so I am resigned to digging it out once a year.