Symphytum Bocking 4 Comfrey

In my articles on growing and using comfrey for gardeners, I mention the Bocking 4 comfrey clone. Lawrence D. Hills analysed the nutrient composition of the various strains of comfrey he developed at the Bocking trial grounds. He concluded that Bocking 14 was the best clone for growers looking to use comfrey as a fertiliser. But for an animal feed, he found Bocking 4 to be best suited.

Comfrey Bed

Sadly, the Bocking 4 strain seemed to be lost to us in the UK, although it was available in the USA. Importing live plants from the USA is very tricky. There are strict phytosanitary regulations and requirements to control plant imports. Rightly so, we don’t want to import plant diseases and pests from other parts of the world. Remember the New Zealand Flatworm and Ash Dieback both came in from abroad.

Offers from Newsletter Readers

I’ve had a few newsletter readers from the USA kindly offer to send me some Bocking 4 plants, but I don’t want to break a law I actually agree with. Even if it works against me for this. Their kindness is very much appreciated, all the same.

Then Sarah G. from the UK pointed me to The Agroforestry Research Trust from Devon, who were actually selling Bocking 4 comfrey! Result! I’ve got a few plants on the way and have passed their details on to the chaps at Comfrey.co.uk, who I hope will also take it on to sell, complementing their sales of Bocking 14. The Agroforestry Research Trust are stopping selling plants at the end of 2025

Plants Arrived

I ordered 3 plants and expected to get root sets or crown sets. Happy surprise, they sent actual plants in 5″ pots. They’ve got a good root system, in fact they’re a little rootbound, so I moved them straight into larger pots with a rich potting compost I made up. This should give them a bit of boost before they go dormant for the winter. You’re hard-pressed to overfeed comfrey, so no concerns about using a rich growing medium.

They could be planted out now, but I want to prepare the ground well first.  I’ll be keeping them very separate from the Bocking 14 – telling the plants apart visually is not possible. I don’t want to mix them up!

Symphytum Bocking 4 Comfrey Plants potted on from the 5″ pots they arrived in.

Future Plans

Over the next few years, I plan to multiply the plants and grow my new stock. Then, if nobody is selling them, I’ll be able to offer plants to interested growers. And, more importantly, keep the clone available in the UK.

Loss of Comfrey Research

The history of comfrey seems to be one of development, discovery and loss. After his death, the research notes of Henry Doubleday were destroyed by the family. Lawrence D Hills, developed the Bocking clones at his trial grounds in Bocking and founded the HDRA – later to become Garden Organic. Yet, Bocking 4 was all but lost in the UK. Even the Bocking 4 plants I’ve got were re-introduced to Britain from America.

Hopefully, in time, we can get Bocking 4 comfrey clones in enough gardens to ensure its survival in the British Isles.

More Information

My articles on growing and using comfrey are here.