Also going near Boraginaceae are the Hoplestigmataceae according to Takhtajan. Bremer et al. do not place the family in any of their recognized groups of flowering plants. To my knowledge, neither Tetrachondraceae nor Hoplestigmataceae have been studied using molecular systematic techniques. Herbaceous members of the Boraginaceae are occasionally cultivated, especially Echium and Myosotis . The genus Mertensia is growing in popularity as a garden plant especially in the United States.
Some species can be weedy but few are a significant problem.
Lumber is obtained from Cordia in the tropics. A few are eaten, some are a source of dyes, and an occasional species has a history of medicinal use.