Symphytum officinale

FamilyGenus: Symphytumnative in Germany

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Species

interact

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454

Interactions

documented

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Host relationships

Species

About this species

A native herbaceous perennial with broad leaves and nectar-rich flowers appearing from June to August, thriving in moist, nutrient-rich soils in full sun.

Ecological network

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PollinationLarval hostFlower visit

Ecological significance

The flowers provide an excellent nectar and pollen source for a wide range of insects, supporting local pollinator populations.

Annual cycle

Blooms from June to August.

Standort & Merkmale

Light

Sonne

Moisture

Frisch (Mäßig feucht)

Soil

Starkzehrer (Nährstoffreicher/Fetter Boden)

Flowering period

Jun – Aug

Soil reaction

Mäßig sauer bis neutral

Bioregion

Continental

Nectar value

Pollen value

Growth form

Krautige Pflanze

Woodiness

Nicht verholzt

Leaf type

Breitblättrig

Plant height

0.569 m

Morphological traits: TRY ID3 (CC BY 3.0) & TRY ID81 (CC BY)

Pflege & Anbau

Prefers a position in full sun and a moist, nutrient-rich, preferably calcareous soil.

Scientific profile

Symphytum officinale is a native herbaceous perennial found across Great Britain. It produces broad, non-woody foliage and typically reaches a height around 0.6 metres. The bell-shaped flowers appear from June to August, each bloom offering abundant nectar and pollen; both properties are rated at the highest level on available scoring systems. The plant occurs on moist, calcareous, nutrient-rich soils in full sun and is associated with habitats that experience low disturbance. It forms arbuscular mycorrhizal associations.

Pollinators & visitors

49 Arten interagieren mit dieser Pflanze

Bombus lapidariusBombus lucorumBombus pratorumPieris brassicaePieris napiAglais urticaeBombus vestalisBombus sylvestrisBombus terrestrisAndrena dorsataApis melliferaBombus campestrisBombus hypnorumBombus muscorumPieris rapaeBombus sylvarumBombus jonellusAnthidium manicatumBombus argillaceusBombus pascuorumBombus humilisAndrena nitidaOsmia caerulescensBombus ruderariusVanessa carduiAnthocharis cardaminesBombus soroeensisAglais ioPolistes dominulaXylocopa violaceaVespa crabroCallimorpha dominulaCarterocephalus palaemonAnthophora plumipesAporia crataegiAndrena flavipesBombus hortorumBombus wurfleniiBombus terrestris/lucorumSphaerophoria scriptaOchlodes sylvanusEucera clypeataEristalis tenaxBombusOsmia bicornisBombus lucorum/terrestrisBombus.humilisBombus.pratorumBombus missing

Host relationships

5 species use this plant as a host

Diachrysia chrysitisNaenia typicaGonepteryx rhamniEuplagia quadripunctariaNedyus quadrimaculatus

Other flower visitors

8 other species visit the flowers

Chloris chlorisHippodamia variegataMononychus punctumalbumCoccinella septempunctataOxythyrea funestaCassida viridisPhytoecia coerulescensEucera cf. clypeata

Sources & data origin

•Interaktionsdaten via GloBI (CC-BY 4.0)

•Cook et al. (2025) UK Butterfly & Moth Traits (DOI: 10.5285/dbc7cc17-cbbd-49dd-bab4-8e8855768d66)

•pollinator_interactions

•FloraWeb / BfN

•EIVE 1.0 — Dengler et al. (2023), DOI: 10.3897/VCS.98324 (CC BY 4.0)

•EuPPollNet — Kuppler et al. (2025), DOI: 10.1111/geb.70000 (CC BY 4.0)

•Database of Pollinator Interactions (DoPI) — Pocock et al. (2022), DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3801 (CC BY)

•GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — GBIF Secretariat (2024), DOI: 10.15468/39omei (CC BY 4.0)

•TRY Categorical Traits (ID3) — Kattge et al. (2012), DOI: 10.17871/TRY.3 (CC BY 3.0)

•TRY Global Spectrum (ID81) — Díaz et al. (2016/2021), DOI: 10.17871/TRY.81 (CC BY)

•Govaerts R et al. (2025) — World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) v14. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. DOI: 10.34885/xs7h-ze42 (CC BY 4.0)

•Foto: © Adobe Stock / AdobeStock_504894991

All data is licensed under CC BY 4.0, CC0, or compatible terms. Attribution according to license conditions. Full source overview →