True Comfrey (Symphytum officinale var patens) is a hardy perennial shrub native to Europe and Asia, and could be the most valued plant in a permaculture/subsistence garden. As a garden ally, its uses are myriad. Medicinally, its effects border on magical. Comfrey has an aggressive, deep taproot, and is considered a valuable nutrient cycler. Comfrey's deep roots mine nutrients from the subsoil, primarily accumulating potassium, but also nitrogen, phosphorus, trace minerals and micro-nutrients. These nutrients are pulled up by its roots and concentrated in its leaves. The plant can be cut to the ground two to three times a year, and the leaves used in myriad ways: fermented to make a nutrient-rich tea; added to a compost pile as a compost activator; as animal fodder; as a green manure - or nutrient-rich surface mulch. Comfrey is commonly used as an orchard understory plant to suppress weeds, mine nutrients, and provide a surface mulch around the tree by chopping and dropping the leaves in place. Comfrey flowers are also excellent bee forage.
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