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.

Bocking 14 is a sterile hybrid, meaning it doesn't produce viable seeds. This makes it much easier to control in the garden compared to common comfrey. Learn more 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

Comfrey's deep taproot, which can extend up to 10 feet into the soil, mines nutrients from depths that most plants cannot reach. It is a dynamic accumulator, drawing nutrients from deep in the soil and concentrating them in its leaves. When used as mulch or fertilizer, these nutrients become available to other plants.

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. Bocking 14 is a powerhouse of nutrients, particularly potassium, which is essential for flowering and fruiting plants. It also contains significant amounts of calcium, iron, and other trace minerals.

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

From Our Farm to Your Garden

CP Knerr, Permaculture Farmer

CP Knerr, Permaculture Farmer

Growing comfrey since 2003 • Working toward PDC certification

At First Fruit Farm in Western NY State, we've been growing Bocking 14 comfrey since 2018. We maintain over 200 feet of linear rows of comfrey plants and have established comfrey around dozens of fruit trees across our 74-acre property.

I've personally tested Bocking 14 in multiple applications including as chicken & pig feed, living mulch, composting worm feed, compost accelerator, comfrey tea, and as a rhizome barrier. In each case, this remarkable cultivar has proven its value and versatility.

What Our Customers Say

★★★★★

"SO HAPPY WITH MY ORDER! I ordered 50 comfrey crowns from Charles at FirstFruitFarm and i am beyond satisfied. Packed and organized so well in the box, and the crowns look so healthy. He also threw in some bonus root cuttings that are beautiful! Also happy to hear Charles moistens everything with EM-1 prior to shipping. Look it up if you're not familiar. I am a big believer in brewing and using EM-1 on our farm, garden, orchard, chicken coop, in the household, and everywhere else. Anyways, my new comfrey crowns are beautiful and I'll be carpet bombing the fruit orchard with them over the next couple days. Such a beautiful and beneficial plant! Thanks Charles!"

- Andrew M.

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