Borago officinalis

Herb cultivation just takes a little gardening know-how. Grow borage in an herb or flower garden. Prepare a garden bed that is well tilled with average organic matter. Ensure that the soil is well-drained and in a medium pH range. Sow seeds directly into the garden after the last date of frost. Plant seeds ¼ to ½ inch (6.5 mm. – 1.5 cm.) under the soil in rows 12 inches (30.5 cm.) apart. Thin the borage herb to at least 1 foot (30.5 cm.) when the plants measure 4 to 6 inches (10-15 cm.) tall.

Borage Herb: How To Grow Borage

The borage herb is an old-fashioned plant that can get up to 2 feet (61 cm.) tall, or more. It is native to the Middle East and has an ancient history in war as an enhancement for bravery and courage. Growing borage provides the gardener with cucumber-flavored leaves for tea and other beverages as well as bright, starry blue flowers for decorating salads. All parts of the plant, except the roots, are flavorful and have culinary or medicinal uses.

Borage Plant Info

While not as common as thyme or basil, borage herb (Borago officinalis) is a unique plant for the culinary garden. It grows quickly as an annual but will colonize a corner of the garden by self-seeding and reappearing year after year.

June and July are heralded by the presence of the borage flower, an appealing, small, brilliant blue bloom with attractive qualities. Indeed, the plant should be included in the butterfly garden and brings pollinators to your veggies. The oval leaves are hairy and rough with the lower foliage pushing 6 inches (15 cm.) in length. The borage plant may grow 12 or more inches (30.5 or more cm.) wide in a tall bushy habit.

Growing Borage

Herb cultivation just takes a little gardening know-how. Grow borage in an herb or flower garden. Prepare a garden bed that is well tilled with average organic matter. Ensure that the soil is well-drained and in a medium pH range. Sow seeds directly into the garden after the last date of frost. Plant seeds ¼ to ½ inch (6.5 mm. – 1.5 cm.) under the soil in rows 12 inches (30.5 cm.) apart. Thin the borage herb to at least 1 foot (30.5 cm.) when the plants measure 4 to 6 inches (10-15 cm.) tall.

Planting borage with strawberries attracts bees and increases the yield of fruit. It has limited culinary use in today’s foods, but the borage flower is often used as a garnish. Traditionally the borage plant was used to treat many ailments, from jaundice to kidney problems. In medicinal use today it is limited, but the seeds are a source of linolenic acid. Borage flowers are also used in potpourris or candied for use in confections.

Borage can be perpetuated by allowing the flowers to go to seed and self-sow. Pinching the terminal growth will force a bushier plant but may sacrifice some of the flowers. Borage herb is not a fussy plant and has been known to grow in refuse piles and highway ditches. Be assured you want the plant to regrow annually or remove the flowers before it seeds. Growing borage requires a dedicated space in the home garden.

Borage Herb Harvest

Sowing the seeds every four weeks will ensure a ready supply of borage flowers. The leaves may be picked at any time and used fresh. Dried leaves have little of the characteristic flavor so the plant is best consumed after harvest. Leave the flowers alone if you are hosting a honeybee colony. The blooms produce an excellent flavored honey.

Borago officinalis

Starflower is an annual plant boasting bright, blue flowers. The wrinkled, dull gray-green leaves that are covered with bristly hairs are edible. This plant grows at its best in full sun, but will not be adversely affected by light shade. It will do well in all types of soil, including nutritionally poor soil.

For propagating, you can grow this plant from seed: the plant is also self-seeding and will remain in your garden year after year.

Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: The plant contains small amounts of pyrrolizidine alkaloids. These may cause liver damage and cancer when this plant is a major part of your diet.

• Attributes: Genus: Borago Species: officinalis Family: Boraginaceae Uses (Ethnobotany): The flowers are used for creating a blue dye. Once added to an acid, it will turn pink. Life Cycle: Annual Recommended Propagation Strategy: Seed Country Or Region Of Origin: Mediterranean Wildlife Value: Attracts bees and other wildlife. Play Value: Attracts Pollinators Wildlife Food Source Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems): poor soil Edibility: In general, the flowers (used as edible flowers) and leaves (used in salads, teas, and sandwiches) are edible. More specifically, the wrinkled, dull gray-green leaves that are covered with bristly hairs are edible. They can be eaten raw or cooked in the same manner as spinach, but have the taste and scent of a salty cucumber. Used as an herb or added to a salad. It is best to chop the leaves up finely as the hairy leaves do not leave a pleasant feeling in the mouth. Once dried, the leaves lose their flavor. The stems are also flavorful and can be used once dried for flavoring beverages. Dimensions: Height: 1 ft. 7 in. – 3 ft. 2 in. Width: 1 ft. 0 in. – 1 ft. 4 in.

• Whole Plant Traits: Plant Type: Annual Edible Herb Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics: Deciduous Habit/Form: Spreading Growth Rate: Medium Maintenance: Low

• Cultural Conditions: Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours) Soil Texture: Clay Loam (Silt) Sand Soil pH: Acid (<6.0) Alkaline (>8.0) Neutral (6.0-8.0) Soil Drainage: Good Drainage Occasionally Dry Available Space To Plant: Less than 12 inches NC Region: Coastal Mountains Piedmont USDA Plant Hardiness Zone: 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b

• Flowers: Flower Color: Blue Flower Inflorescence: Cyme Flower Value To Gardener: Edible Showy Flower Bloom Time: Fall Summer Flower Shape: Star Flower Petals: 4-5 petals/rays Flower Size: < 1 inch

• Leaves: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics: Deciduous Leaf Color: Gray/Silver Green Leaf Value To Gardener: Edible Leaf Type: Simple Leaf Shape: Obovate Ovate Hairs Present: Yes Leaf Length: 3-6 inches Leaf Description: Edible, wrinkled, ovate, dull gray-green leaves grow up to 6″ long. They taste like cucumber. The leaves are covered with bristly hairs.

• Stem: Stem Color: Brown/Copper Green Red/Burgundy Stem Is Aromatic: No Stem Surface: Hairy (pubescent) Stem Description: The branched stems are covered with bristly hairs.

• Landscape: Landscape Location: Coastal Container Patio Slope/Bank Small Space Walkways Landscape Theme: Edible Garden Pollinator Garden Design Feature: Border Mass Planting Small groups Attracts: Bees Pollinators Resistance To Challenges: Poor Soil Problems: Poisonous to Humans Problem for Cats Problem for Children Problem for Dogs Problem for Horses

• Poisonous to Humans: Poison Severity: Low Poison Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, dermatitis Poison Toxic Principle: Tannins, mucilage Causes Contact Dermatitis: No Poison Part: Leaves

Borago officinalis

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