It's a common problem to differentiate between foxglove, borage, comfrey and green alkanet before flowers appear. I have blogged about this before but I saw queries online recently and happened to notice I had all four in my garden yesterday so was inspired to take photos and blog again. Feel the leaves.
If they're smooth like a lambs ear they're more likely foxglove, coarse and spiky more likely alkanet. Comfrey leaves are a little rounder and smoother (and generally appear 'friendlier') than the foxglove's. Comfreys are easier to tell apart from foxgloves once they start blooming, as their flowers are structured a little differently.
This section provides a detailed side-by-side comparison of true comfrey (Symphytum officinale) and the dangerous poisonous foxglove (Digitalis purpurea). Use this plant identification chart and accompanying descriptions to sharpen your observation skills and ensure safety. To summarize, comfrey is often mistaken for Foxglove due to their similar-looking young leaves in early spring.
However, by closely examining the leaves and considering other plant characteristics such as height and flower shape, it is possible to differentiate between the two. Being aware of the key features of comfrey, such as its smooth-edged leaves with sparse, bristly hairs, can help. It's easily done especially when the plants are young, I recently moved some plants about on our plot and thought I'd moved 3 Comfrey plants, turns out it was 1 Comfrey plant and 2 Foxgloves, either way I'm happy the comfrey will make a useful feed for plants and wildlife and the foxglove is a great plant for bees and such like as well.
The toxic lookalike is foxglove and it can make you incredibly sick and can even kill you. So it's important to distinguish the plants from one another before we use them in any way. While all are easily distinguished from one another while in flower, the early stage growth is when it gets tough.
Below are pictures of the leaves of comfrey, burdock, mullein, dock and foxglove and how each one. Difference between young Comfrey and Foxglove It's a tricky one this, plants are always easier to identify when in flower but when they are young it can be much harder, particularly with plants like this as comfrey can be edible and foxglove certainly is not! This is comfrey This is foxglove See what I mean, they look quite similar don't they? Comfrey: Comfrey, known for its medicinal properties, can be mistaken for foxglove due to its similar flower shape and color.
However, comfrey flowers are usually smaller and more densely clustered than foxglove flowers. Difference Between Comfrey & Foxglove Witches' glove, dead man's bell and bloody fingers are just a few common names for the toxic foxglove plant. Knitbone, boneset and bruisewort are some of the common names of the friendlier plant, comfrey.
Confusing them has caused accidental poisoning of humans, pets and livestock through the ages. Foxglove.