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Anyone know what these are?

Slinky
Slinky Posts: 10,704 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
Me again. Still trying to work out what we've inherited in our garden from the previous owner.  What are these, and are they just different colours of the same plant?
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Comments

  • JulieM
    JulieM Posts: 763 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper Newshound!
    Pulmonaria?
  • theoretica
    theoretica Posts: 12,685 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Or - same family - comfrey?
    But a banker, engaged at enormous expense,
    Had the whole of their cash in his care.
    Lewis Carroll
  • greenbee
    greenbee Posts: 17,054 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I think comfrey - pulmonaria would have spotted leaves.
  • twopenny
    twopenny Posts: 6,816 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    It's a dwarf comfrey.
    I used to have one. The bees love it, great when trimming to put on the compost heap or use th leaves to make comfrey juice soaking in a bucket of (preferably) rainwater.
    Great liquid feed for all plants especially tomatoes or roses.
    Tough so you can cut it back to size with no harm because it does spread. I must get some more for my new garden but that's only the second time I've seen it in my life. It's unusual.

    I can rise and shine - just not at the same time!

    viral kindness .....kindness is contageous pass it on

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  • Slinky
    Slinky Posts: 10,704 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Thanks all, I think you're right. I think the top one is comfrey and the second is dwarf comfrey as there is quite a height difference.  It is certainly very popular with the bees, along with the borage. Previous owner seemed keen on helping the wildlife, which we're aiming to continue.

    Where are you twopenny? We've got loads, you could have some!
    Make £2024 in 2024
    Prolific £907.37, Chase Interest £59.97, Chase roundup interest £3.55, Chase CB £122.88, Roadkill £1.30, Octopus referral reward £50, Octopoints £70.46, Topcashback £112.03, Shopmium referral £3, Iceland bonus £4, Ipsos survey £20, Misc Sales £55.44
    Total £1410/£2024  70%

    Make £2023 in 2023  Total: £2606.33/£2023  128.8%

  • twopenny
    twopenny Posts: 6,816 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Exmoor - West Somerset? I left mine behind when I moved. Now I'm sort of organised you've reminded me. The full size comfrey grows wild but never seen the dwarf one which is easier to accommodate.
    You certainly have a larger clump than necessary lol. Do you have charity plant stalls near you?
    Depending on your oppinions Comfrey, also known as knitbone, has been used for centuaries. When it was sold as tea in the uk I found it good for the immune system. Then the Japanese force fed monkeys with it for months and said it was cancerous so sales stopped.
    Borage used to be bought by teens as it is supposed to give  'high sprits' but is also used in Pimms and other drinks. Looks good in ice cubes.
    They're real herbal persons plants. Curious as to what might come next :)

    I can rise and shine - just not at the same time!

    viral kindness .....kindness is contageous pass it on

    The only normal people you know are the ones you don’t know very well


  • Slinky
    Slinky Posts: 10,704 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    edited 14 April 2021 at 4:04PM
    Ah, we're East Anglia, so a bit of a trek for a plant.

    If I spot something else I can't identify, I'll post it up for your expert opinion.

    You mention making plant feed from it, what sort of proportions plant to water and how long would you leave it to stew?
    Make £2024 in 2024
    Prolific £907.37, Chase Interest £59.97, Chase roundup interest £3.55, Chase CB £122.88, Roadkill £1.30, Octopus referral reward £50, Octopoints £70.46, Topcashback £112.03, Shopmium referral £3, Iceland bonus £4, Ipsos survey £20, Misc Sales £55.44
    Total £1410/£2024  70%

    Make £2023 in 2023  Total: £2606.33/£2023  128.8%

  • twopenny
    twopenny Posts: 6,816 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    No idea  :) I just used to cut the leaves and stems I'd trimmed into smaller chunks and stuffed them into a bucket tucked away. Added a little tap water to get it started then let the weather do the rest. But if you cut it small I'm thinking it would be quicker. Then I just kept it topped up with leaves when I was clearing ground so it was an ongoing thing. Smells ripe though when its done! Turns a dark brown.
    When it came to watering I just looked at the current ripeness (colour) of the liquid and bunged some in the watering can. Pale a lot, dark brown only a little.
    On the compost I just chucked the foliage on.
    Works a treat with the added satisfaction that you've cleared up a plant and got the feed for free with almost no effort. Just love those sort of things.
    Thank you for the kind thought. But you've reminded me to look out for some so I'm thinking it will now turn up.

    I can rise and shine - just not at the same time!

    viral kindness .....kindness is contageous pass it on

    The only normal people you know are the ones you don’t know very well


  • Slinky
    Slinky Posts: 10,704 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Put out a cosmic order and hopefully it will be answered.
    Make £2024 in 2024
    Prolific £907.37, Chase Interest £59.97, Chase roundup interest £3.55, Chase CB £122.88, Roadkill £1.30, Octopus referral reward £50, Octopoints £70.46, Topcashback £112.03, Shopmium referral £3, Iceland bonus £4, Ipsos survey £20, Misc Sales £55.44
    Total £1410/£2024  70%

    Make £2023 in 2023  Total: £2606.33/£2023  128.8%

  • twopenny
    twopenny Posts: 6,816 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Thought I saw some on a grass verge today but I had to wizz a friend to an appointment.
    Or maybe it was just wishful thinking.

    I can rise and shine - just not at the same time!

    viral kindness .....kindness is contageous pass it on

    The only normal people you know are the ones you don’t know very well


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