Plant Details

Symphytum tuberosum

Tuberous comfrey

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Symphytum tuberosum.

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Common names

24 names · 21 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Tuberous comfrey[1]
Other languages (20)
Dutch
  • Knolsmeerwortel[1]
French
  • Consoude tubéreuse[1]
  • Consoude à tubercules[1]
Basque
  • Zolda-belar[1]
Catalan
  • consolda petita[1]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 塊莖康復力[1]
Czech
  • kostival hlíznatý[1]
Danish
  • knoldet kulsukker[1]
Finnish
  • keltaraunioyrtti[1]
German
  • Knoten-Beinwell[1]
Hungarian
  • gumós nadálytő[1]
Italian
  • Consolida femmina[1]
  • Consolida tuberosa[1]
  • Sinfito tuberoso[1]
Lithuanian
  • Gumbinė taukė[1]
Norwegian
Polish
  • Żywokost bulwiasty[1]
Portuguese
  • consolda-amarela[1]
Russian
  • Окопник клубненосный[1]
Slovak
  • kostihoj hľuznatý[1]
Slovenian
  • Gomoljasti gabez[1]
Swedish
  • gul vallört[1]
Ukrainian
  • Живокіст бульбистий[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Symphytum tuberosum — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Tuberous Comfrey — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 131625; Symphytum tuberosum.
  • Knoten-Beinwell — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 131625; Symphytum tuberosum.
  • Consoude tubéreuse — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 131625; Symphytum tuberosum.
  • Consoude à tubercules — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 131625; Symphytum tuberosum.
  • kostival hlíznatý — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 131625; Symphytum tuberosum.
  • Knolsmeerwortel — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 131625; Symphytum tuberosum.
  • Zolda-belar — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 131625; Symphytum tuberosum.
  • gulvalurt — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 131625; Symphytum tuberosum.
  • keltaraunioyrtti — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 131625; Symphytum tuberosum.
  • Żywokost bulwiasty — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 131625; Symphytum tuberosum.
  • Окопник клубненосный — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 131625; Symphytum tuberosum.
  • kostihoj hľuznatý — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 131625; Symphytum tuberosum.
  • Consolida femmina — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 131625; Symphytum tuberosum.
  • Consolida tuberosa — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 131625; Symphytum tuberosum.
  • Sinfito tuberoso — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 131625; Symphytum tuberosum.
  • gul vallört — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 131625; Symphytum tuberosum.
  • Gumbinė taukė — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 131625; Symphytum tuberosum.
  • knoldet kulsukker — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 131625; Symphytum tuberosum.
  • Gomoljasti gabez — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 131625; Symphytum tuberosum.
  • Живокіст бульбистий — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 131625; Symphytum tuberosum.
  • gumós nadálytő — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 131625; Symphytum tuberosum.
  • 塊莖康復力 — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 131625; Symphytum tuberosum.
  • consolda petita — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 131625; Symphytum tuberosum.
  • consolda-amarela — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 131625; Symphytum tuberosum.

General information

Scientific name: Symphytum tuberosum
Accepted name (Kew): Symphytum tuberosum L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Boraginaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Symphytum (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Tuberous comfrey
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous, Ground cover
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.60 m
Spread: 0.60 m
Growth rate: Fast
Foliage: None

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4-8
Soil moisture:
Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Partial shade, Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Coffee
Edibility rating:
(2)
Medicinal rating:
(0)
Functions:
Ground cover

Description

The root of the plant is roasted until brown and crispy, then ground finely and used as an alternative to coffee. It has a silky smooth texture that sets it apart from real coffee.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/05
Harvest ends: 31/10

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 205938; name ID 2473193; Symphytum Tourn. ex L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 206470; name ID 2475643; Symphytum tuberosum L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Symphytum tuberosum

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 1316324, ID 53QGV: Symphytum tuberosum L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .