What is Bocking 14 Comfrey?

Bocking 14 is a specially cultivated variety of Russian comfrey that offers numerous benefits for gardeners while addressing concerns about invasiveness.

The History of Bocking 14

Bocking 14 was developed in the 1950s by Lawrence D. Hills at the Henry Doubleday Research Association (now Garden Organic) in Bocking, Essex, UK. It was part of a series of comfrey cultivars developed and tested for specific characteristics.

Hills selected and propagated different comfrey strains, numbering them according to their performance. Bocking 14 emerged as the superior variety for general garden use due to its high potassium content, vigorous growth, and sterile nature.

As a sterile cultivar, Bocking 14 doesn't produce viable seeds, making it a preferred choice for gardeners concerned about comfrey's potential to spread aggressively.

Comfrey flowers with large green leaves

Characteristics of Bocking 14

Sterile Hybrid

Doesn't produce viable seeds, controlling spread and making it ideal for managed garden settings.

Deep Tap Root

Grows 6-10 feet deep, mining nutrients from subsoil layers that most plants can't access.

Nutrient Content

High in potassium (2-3%), nitrogen (0.5-0.9%), and phosphorus (0.5-0.8%), making it excellent for fertilizer.

Growth Habit

Grows 3-5 feet tall with large, hairy leaves and purple-blue flowers that attract pollinators.

Bocking 14 vs. Common Comfrey

Characteristic Bocking 14 Common Comfrey
Scientific Name Symphytum × uplandicum 'Bocking 14' Symphytum officinale
Seed Production Sterile (no viable seeds) Produces viable seeds
Potassium Content Higher (2-3%) Lower (1.5-2.5%)
Growth Rate Very vigorous Moderate to vigorous
Leaf Size Larger leaves Smaller leaves

Why Choose Bocking 14?

Bocking 14 was specifically selected for its high nutrient content, making it superior for fertilizer production. Its leaves contain approximately 2-3% potassium, 0.5-0.9% nitrogen, and 0.5-0.8% phosphorus by dry weight.

As a sterile cultivar, it won't spread by seed, giving gardeners peace of mind about potential invasiveness. It can still spread via root fragments, but this is much easier to control than seed dispersal.

Bocking 14 is particularly well-suited for:

  • Chop and drop mulching in permaculture systems
  • Making nutrient-rich comfrey tea for plants
  • Accelerating compost decomposition
  • Creating biomass in food forests and orchards
  • Attracting pollinators with its flowers
Comfrey plant with large green leaves

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