Borage
Borago officinalis
Borage is a fast annual herb with hairy leaves and star-shaped, sky-blue flowers that bees adore. The flowers decorate salads, drinks and cakes, and the young leaves taste of cucumber.
Photo: Christian Orlandi · CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Essential Care Requirements
Light
Full sun
Watering
Moderate
Water in dry spells; established plants are fairly drought tolerant.
Soil
Average, well-drained soil; pH 6.0–7.5.
Temperature and humidity
0–32 °C · Moderate humidity
Feeding
No feeding needed.
Pruning and propagation
Propagate by seed
Pinch tips to keep it bushy; pull plants once they go to seed.
Flowers and young leaves are eaten in small amounts. The plant contains alkaloids that can harm the liver in large or regular doses, and it is listed as toxic to cats and dogs.
Top Cultivation Tips
Sow directly; it dislikes transplanting.
Plant near strawberries and tomatoes to attract pollinators.
Freeze flowers in ice cubes.
Self-seeds freely.
Common problems
Aphids
Small, soft-bodied insects that cluster on new shoots and buds, sucking sap and leaving sticky honeydew behind.
How to treat it →DiseasePowdery mildew
A fungal disease that coats leaves, buds and young shoots with a white, flour-like dust, weakening the plant and spoiling flowers and fruit.
How to treat it →
