The common comfrey has big hairy leaves and bears small, bell-shaped flowers from May to July. It is a very popular plant in the garden as it attracts pollinators, makes an excellent mulch, serves as fertiliser, helps distract slugs (they like it so much that they no longer look at your lettuce) and accelerates the decomposition of your compost. What a winner.

In European herbal medicine, comfrey poultice made from the leaves and root was (and still is) recommended to help heal broken bones, bruises and wounds.