Borage Borage Borago officinalis Sparkling periwinkle-blue blooms dance atop borage's fuzzy stems and leaves. A beauty in the garden, annual borage faithfully comes back from seed each year, quickly filling in a space. Harvest edible flowers to beautify salads, summer drinks, or desserts. Toss blooms onto fanned tomato and mozzarella slices for a festive Fourth of July feast. Freeze flowers in ice cubes to decorate drinks with cool color. Borage will flower indoors in containers if given heat and plenty of light. In the garden, pull seedlings judiciously in spring. Borage: Pictures, Flowers, Leaves and Identification | Borago officinalis Pause Resume To support our efforts please see our store (books with medicinal info & subscriptions), or browse the borage products below. Borage is a hardy annual edible that is known for its beauty. It’s a domestic herbal remedy that has been used since ancient times. Some people use borage as a substitute for valerian as it dispels melancholy and induces euphoria. Borage has a beneficial effect on the heart, adrenal glands, kidneys and the entire digestive system. It has been used as a cure for jaundice.

This beautiful plant works well as a companion plant as it deters tomato hornworm and Japanese beetles; it also stimulates the growth of strawberries. - click to play video - Distinguishing Features: Borage is a somewhat gangly plant, but because the star-shaped flowers are so vibrant, this isn’t really noticed. They’re brilliant blue, hanging in downward facing clusters. As the plant matures the stalks and leaves become covered with prickly fuzz. Flowers: Borage has brilliant, blue flowers that are star-shaped with prominent black anthers forming a cone-like structure. Fields of Nutrition has medicinal benefits and vitamin/mineral content of Borage. Leaves: The leaves are broadly ovate and stalked and measure between 4 and 10 cm. in length. They are covered with whitish bristles that can feel rough-hairy. Height: Borage can grow up to 1 metre tall but tends to average at about 80 centimetres. Habitat: Borage can grow wild in woodlands and pastures. It is also a cultivated herb that many people grow in their gardens. Edible parts: Leaves have been traditionally used to make a tea to rid the body of a fever.

Although they can be cooked eating them raw is not recommended due to the ‘prickles’ it is best not to. Flowers are very tasty and can be tossed into salads or they can be crystallized to make a “candy.” The seeds are a rich source of gamma-linolenic acid; this oil helps to regulate the hormonal systems and lowers blood pressure. An edible blue dye can be obtained from the flowers; some people use it to colour vinegar however it turns pink on contact with acids. Growing and Using the Herb Borage in the Home Garden Updated December 05, 2016. Overview and Description of Borage: Borage is an easy growing annual herb plant with vivid blue flowers and leaves and flowers with the flavor of cucumbers. It is considered an herb but is often grown as a flower in vegetable gardens where it attracts pollinating bees and is considered a good companion plant for tomatoes , squash , and strawberries . It’s even supposed to deter tomato hornworms and improve the flavor of tomatoes growing nearby. Borage is actually a somewhat gangly plant, but you barely notice it because the star-shaped flowers are so vibrant. They start out pink and turn a true blue, hanging in downward facing clusters.

Even the fuzzy white buds are attractive. Both the flowers and the leaves are edible, with a cucumber-like flavor. Use the leaves while they are young, because as the plant matures, the stalks and leaves become covered with a prickly fuzz. Botanical Name: Borage is an annual plant, so USDA Hardiness Zones do not apply. continue reading below our video 3 Items to Make Your Home More Modern Although the original plants will not come back next year, they do self-seed readily. Don''t worry. They are easy enough to pull out and won't become a nuisance. Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade. Growing borage plants in full sun will give you the most flowers and the stockiest plants. Mature Size: 18 - 36 inches (45 - 90cm) H x 9 - 24 inches (22 - 60cm) W. They can become gangly and floppy when they get top heavy with flowers. Growing borage in full sun will help make for sturdier plants. Bloom Period: Borage can bloom from late Spring through summer although the plants will start to decline if they are not deadheaded and left to go to seed.

Staggering your planting times will give you a longer period of bloom and provide a longer harvest time. If the flowers fade before you have a chance to deadhead them, the plants will re-seed on their own. Design Suggestions: As mentioned above, borage is often grown in the vegetable or herb garden because it is such a magnet for bees and other pollinators and because it is considered a good growing companion for other plants. However, it is equally beautiful in a cottage style flower garden , where it has room to self-seed. Harvesting or deadheading will keep it in bloom longer. Suggested Varieties: Borago officinalis is the only borage I have seen offered by seed companies. Harvesting Borage: Harvest leaves and flowers as needed. Older leaves will get prickly, making harvesting anything on the plant a bit unpleasant. However, the flowers do add a bit of flavor and a great deal of color to salads, soups, dips & spreads, open face sandwiches, beverages and ice cubes. As with all edible flowers , use sparingly until you know how they affect you. Borage is said to have a mild laxative effect. Borage Growing Tips: Borage grows best if direct seeded .

Barely cover the seeds with soil and keep well watered. The plants are tolerant of any type soil, even poor dry soil. However , a sunny location with rich, well-draining soil is optimal. If you choose to start seed indoors , transplant before they become pot bound. Plan to start seedlings about 3 to 4 weeks before the last expected frost and don’t transplant outdoors until the soil has warmed. Once seedlings are about 2-3 inches tall, thin to approximately 12 inches apart. Maintenance: Plants in poor soil will benefit from periodic feeding with any fertilizer labeled for use on edible plants. Something with a high phosphorous number ( the middle number on a fertilizer package ) will help keep them in flower. Plants can be pinched or pruned, to encourage branching and to keep them shorter. Borage is open pollinated and it is very easy to collect and save the seed from flowers allowed to remain on the plant and turn brown. Borage self-seeds readily if allowed to go to seed naturally. Excess plants are very easy to remove from the garden. Pest & Problems: Borage is virtually problem-free. Nothing wants to get too close to those scratchy leaves!

More on adding blue flowers to your garden. How to Grow Borage | Planet Natural Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade Maturity: 55-75 days Height: 18 to 36 inches Spacing: 12 to 24 inches apart, 2 to 4 feet between rows Star-shaped borage (Borago officinalis) flowers hang in clusters and are a beautiful blue color. Bees love the bright blooms and rely on the herb as a nectar source, literally covering the plants some days. Leaves and stems are covered with fine, silver or white hairs and appear to be almost woolly. Borage flowers can be used to decorate cool, summertime party drinks and add color to salads and desserts. Both the flowers and leaves are edible and provide a light cucumber flavor. Grows well in containers and may be used as a companion plant with tomatoes and squash. Plants are 2-3 feet tall and self-sow readily. FREE SHIPPING!

Low-maintenance plant that draws in bees and beneficial insects Easy to start from seed inside or out Plant in full sun and well-amended soil in a wind-protected location Fresh blooms and small leaves can be used in salad; large leaves are good in soups or cooked like collard greens Very few pests or diseases Site Preparation Container gardens — both indoors and out — and outside herb gardens work well for growing borage. The culinary herb prefers full sun, but will tolerate partial shade and rich, moist soil. Choose a site that is well protected from wind, as plants are easily blown over, and work in plenty of organic compost prior to planting. Read our article how to prepare garden soil for planting to learn more. How to Plant Grown from seed, borage can be started indoors 3-4 weeks before the last frost or direct seeded just after the danger of frost has passed. Plant the small, black seeds just beneath the surface of the soil and thin seedlings to at least one foot apart. Trim back occasionally to keep plants tidy and upright. Harvesting Harvest leaves and flowers as they are needed. They have a refreshing, mild cucumber flavor and may be used to garnish salads, dips, and soups.

Young leaves are best used fresh as plants do not dry well (see Harvesting and Preserving Herbs ). Tip: Freeze borage blossoms in ice cubes for a festive and fun way to cool down summer drinks. Insects and Disease Insects and disease are not typically a problem for borage. Seed Saving Instructions It’s very easy to save borage seeds. Just keep a close eye on the blooms and when they begin to fade and turn brown, pick the seeds. Be sure to get them before they fall as borage is very good at seeding itself for the next season, even without your help. Borage (Borago officinalis) | Homestead & Gardens Homestead & Gardens By Anni on November 1, 2014 in Drinks , Food/Recipes , Garden , Growing Guides , Herbs Looking for how to actually use borage? Hop over here to see exactly what you can do with borage (yes, it’s definitely edible!).

Overview Commonly known as: Borage, Starflower, Bee bread Annual: easy to start from seed Light: Full sun to dappled shade Height: 2-3 feet/60-90 cm Soil: Average to rich soil, well-draining; allowed to dry in between waterings Borage is an old herb, known at least since Roman times. It is said that borage gladdens the heart, and surely the purple flowers are cheery. But even the small, young leaves are slightly prickly, and the plant may seem rather coarse to a new gardener. Still, it can add color and interest to any garden, and it has value in the kitchen as well. For the avid herb gardener, it’s a must. Description Borage is also known as star flower. The flowers are, indeed, a star shape with 5 pointed purple or pink petals (flowers are often pink upon opening, and then turn purplish blue). The star shape is enhanced by five green sepals that appear at each spot where two petals meet, around the center of the flower. There is a cultivar of borage that produces white flowers as well.

Borage leaves do contain a small amount of silica which may irritate the skin of sensitive individuals, so handle with care, whether they are fresh or dried. The leaves, stems, and sepals of borage are covered with fine, silvery or white hairs that give the plant a soft sheen. The hairs may add to the plants appearance, but some people find the bristle of hairs discourages them from putting borage to greater use in the kitchen. Cultivation Borage is one of the easiest plants to grow from seed. If it is allowed to bloom & set seed, it will readily self-seed providing a new generation of borage each year (which may or may not be desirable). Borage is a hardy annual which means that the seeds can be sown outside in the early spring, or even in the fall and overwintered in the soil ready to come up at the first signs of spring. Borage seeds need complete darkness to germinate. A full layer of soil should do the trick. Borage is not likely to be successfully transplanted because of its long taproot. Always plant borage in the pot or plot it is intended to grow.

When other plants are sown indoors, usually 4-8 weeks before the last frost, borage can be sown outside, where it will germinate within a few days or weeks. Borage originates in the Mediterranean, and prefers an average to rich, well-draining soil. Since over-watering is often (ironically) a greater problem than under-watering, be sure that you allow the soil around the borage to dry in between waterings. Working some compost into the soil before planting borage will ensure plenty of nutrients for your borage plants, but don’t add an excessive amount. Since borage readily re-seeds itself, adding a thin layer of compost each fall as a mulch is likely to not only provide nutrients for the next year’s borage plants, but it also adds a little protection to the seeds that have fallen from the flowers and will over-winter in the ground. Seeds Borage seeds are 5-6 millimeters long, and about half as wide, making them larger than many other herb seeds, and easier to sow. They look like little seed pods, with grooves running along the side and a cap on top.

Borage seeds Because borage self-seeds, it can provide many new plants each spring. However, it is not likely to be invasive since it spreads above-ground (from seeds coming from the flower heads) rather than underground (as in the case of the mints, which spread through stolons). Unwanted borage plants are fairly easy to remove and keep in control. Just be sure to weed them out before mid-summer to prevent them from flowering and setting more seeds. Borage seeds have a fairly long shelf life – the official number given is 3 years. However, I have seeds that are almost 5 years old, & earlier this spring I got a nearly 100% germination rate. In the Garden Borage is a medium-height plant and will do well in the middle of a flower border. Its stems are hollow and succulent, but if they get tall, the lower area can be somewhat bare and unsightly, with sucker branches here and there displaying only a flower or two. The greatest glory of borage is at the very top of the main stems, where the droops of borage flower buds are congregated en masse.

Planted in the middle of a flower border, with some shorter plants in front, it is a well-balanced display. Pinching the terminal buds may be effective in reducing the height of the plant and increasing compactness. Borage is very useful in the garden. It attracts bees, which increases pollination of nearby plants. Borage may also enhance the growth of tomatoes (by confusing and repelling tomato hornworm); brassicas (by repelling and confusing cabbage worms); and strawberries may do better when grown near borage. Other plants that seem to improve when grown near borage: cucumbers, beans (including climbing and bush beans), grapes, zucchini/squash, and peas. It is not known to be antagonistic toward any plants. Borage is also useful as a mulch and in a compost pile. Its leaves and stems contain calcium and potassium which may account for another reason why tomatoes do well near borage. Blossom end rot, which affects tomatoes, is caused by lack of calcium. Potassium helps plants to bloom and set fruit, which may increase production in tomatoes and strawberries. Whatever reasons for planting borage, it is likely to do a lot of good for your garden.

In the Kitchen The smaller, younger leaves are best in fresh salads since they are not quite as bristly as the older leaves. If you still find them too disagreeable to eat fresh, you may find they are more useful when they’re chopped up and added to soups or sautéed dishes. Remember that borage tastes like cucumber, so wherever cucumber flavor is needed, borage is likely to be able to act as a substitute. Borage can also be used only for the flavoring during the cooking, and then removed from the dish before serving. 1. Borage and Cream Cheese Spread : Finely chopped young borage leaves, onion greens, onion/shallot in cream cheese. They are absolutely delicious… there’s never enough to go around! 2. Candied Borage Flowers : Remove the sepals from the flower. Traditionally, they would paint the flowers with lightly beaten egg whites and dip in a very fine sugar. Unpasteurized egg whites carry the risk of food poisoning, so you can use either gum arabic or powdered egg white instead . Use to garnish deserts, like so: (For more info, check out Edible Flowers: Deserts & Drinks by C. Barash ) 3.

Freezing borage flowers in ice cubes is a fun addition to summer drinks. 4. A borage vinegar can be used in making salad dressings and it’s probably the only satisfactory way to store borage. Freezing & drying produce unsatisfactory results. 5. A refreshing tea is made by pouring a cup of boiling water over ¼ cup of bruised borage leaves; steep for 5 minutes; strain & serve. Young borage leaves also go well in lemonade. Or try these recipes from other bloggers: Lemon Balm and Borage Sparkling Water , and Borage Fizz (we do it without the alcohol) Herbal Use & Notes Borage may help heal insect bites and inflamed or infected cuts. Either use finely chopped borage leaves, or make a tea by pouring 4 cups of boiling water over a large amount of leaves; steep, strain, and pour into a spray bottle. Spray on skin for cooling and healing. The silica may cause irritation to the skin in some individuals, so use it cautiously. Borage may affect lactation in pregnant and nursing women, so it’s best if it’s not used by a breastfeeding mother. Cautions: Some herbalists warn that borage can be toxic to the liver.

Borage has been eaten by thousands of people for centuries and is likely to be consumed in complete safety in normal quantities, but it is always good to be moderate in your consumption. In large amounts, borage may have a diuretic effect. Interest: I’ve observed that when my borage plants are less-healthy, more of the flowers tend to stay pink. If you have borage plants with many pink flowers, add compost, compost tea, or other organic feed. About Anni I've loved milk since I was a kid, I tend to collect books, my favorite season is fall, and I'm very allergic to cats. I'm a nutritional therapist, having obtained a Bachelors degree in Dietetics, but without the further qualifications to become a registered dietitian (I got married & had a family instead). Subscribe to our e-mail newsletter to receive updates. Related Posts: 53 Responses to Borage (Borago officinalis) Sue G. July 13, 2013 at 5:10 pm # Lovely post. Very informative.

I grew borage in my garden just for the fun of it this year, next to cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, eggplant, beets, and carrots. It is such a large and attractive plant! I see bees on it fairly often, even though there seem to be so few bees overall this year, so I adore it for attracting the bees. I will be planting it yearly now, even though it takes up relatively considerable space. as you said, it is cheering, and worth it. Anni July 31, 2013 at 10:55 am # Sue, Isn’t it crazy?! There are so many fewer bees this year. Not just where we are, but all over the U.S. We’ve heard from people in practically every corner of the country who say they’ve been out hand-pollinating their plants because they’re not getting pollinated by bees! Anni Reply Jackie August 12, 2013 at 4:08 pm # Just wanted to add a more hopeful note, having recently learned about the plight of the bumble bee (sorry). There have been many, many bees in our garden this year, largely because of the Borage.

We are in southwestern Ontario. My question is if dried Borage is as effective as fresh when used for tea? Thanks Anni September 3, 2013 at 9:02 am # Probably. If you mean flavor, then I think so. I’m so glad you have lots of bumble bees! We grew lots of bee-friendly plants and there was still a considerable difference in the bee populations this year, from our observations. Reply jOHNNIE POWELL March 28, 2015 at 8:34 am # So, do you think the chemical companies have much to do with that? Consider for a moment that most of the seeds that we use are purchased and not harvested. Just a thought. Reply Sharon Webber July 2, 2015 at 10:39 pm # It’s also monoculture and factory bee hives, to name just a few things… they haven’t done enough studies on cell towers, but I think it’s a combination of all of these things.

John August 14, 2013 at 4:29 am # I live in Sussex England,and the bee population is under threat by a virus that has spread all over G.B.I have noticed that my apples don’t have many pips. Reply Anni September 3, 2014 at 9:01 am # We’re hearing stories like that from all over! It’s crazy, isn’t it?! Who knows what to expect. :/ Reply Patricia September 23, 2013 at 4:28 am # We need to start planting seeds that are not genitically altered. The bees need the nectar from plants that are grown the way they are supposed to be grown. Reply Anni October 21, 2013 at 8:28 am # Agreed! We’ve seen and heard of some interesting things around here when the bees are primarily gathering nectar from GMO cotton, compared to hives that are placed along the rivers where they gather nectar primarily from wildflowers!

Reply Patricia September 23, 2013 at 4:29 am # Also, i planted Borage this year for the first time and I had lots more bees this year than i had last year. Reply Andrea February 14, 2014 at 6:08 pm # Can anyone tell me what time of year the borage flowers are in bloom? I want to use them in cooking…x Anni February 15, 2014 at 11:34 am # Andrea, Borage is a fast grower. It germinates quickly and grows fast. I think ours bloomed within about six weeks of seed sowing. You can sow them early and then transplant them, so you can start them 3 or 4 weeks before the last frost and plant them in the garden after the soil has warmed up a bit. But you don’t want them to get root-bound, because they do lose quite a bit of water vapor through their leaves and will dry out quickly if the top is too big and the roots are root bound when you transplant it. They’ll probably bloom by late May to early June.

If you stagger sow them, you’ll have borage flowers all the way from late spring to fall. I hope that helps! Reply Mike March 7, 2014 at 1:29 am # I take an omega 3 and omega 6 supplement each day. The omega 6 is from borage oil. The following website provides interesting info about the good type of omega 6 taken from fatty acids such as borage oil : umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/omega6-fatty-acids Catherine August 14, 2014 at 6:03 pm # Hi Mike, I take Magnesium for my muscle issues, clears up my charlie horses(ouch!!) I am switching to magnesium oil, and will supplement too. Hope this helps.(I also take Omega 3 and 6) Cathy Reply Margaret March 14, 2014 at 7:40 am # Last November 2 borage flowers appeared in my garden caused either by wind or birds. Now there are dozens of borage plants, both amongst the vegetable and in the flower garden.

Most of these have been consigned to the compost heap, but some of my friends have taken some. Nice to know I can make a cup of tea from the. Anni April 8, 2014 at 3:04 pm # However they got there in the first place… at least you can make them useful! Reply kathy June 18, 2014 at 12:15 pm # I live in Eastern Washington and my borage flowers mid June…I have an organic farm and LOTS of bees! I plant a ton of wildflowers and other attractants like lavender , bee balm, and clover…but mostly I am very judicious in my use of organic pesticides. Anni June 18, 2014 at 5:24 pm # It sounds amazing. I would love to visit your farm. I’ve always loved wildflowers. Reply M. Thal June 19, 2014 at 4:59 pm # Borage….wonderful. I’ve grown it for three years. I have not had any reseeding, but that’s because I’ve gone from a flat garden to raised beds.

Also we are in the midst of a 3-year drought and everything has changed here in northern CA. It attracts all kinds of bees when in flower, lovely. I put the flowers in salads. Haven’t made tea yet, but mine is done for this season already and I’ve cut it back per instructions. Now, bees. My friend is a bee keeper and it’s the nicotionoids or neo nicks as they are called. Bayer products have them most of the big box stores’ plants are raised with them. They are killing the bees. Only organic material in the garden and the fertilizer too and don’t buy or let your friends,family buy plants from the big box stores. There is lots of info on the net about neo nicks and hive collapse. People are really trying to help by planting windflowers and all the bee friendly plants. Maybe we will beat all this and GMO’s too! Anni June 19, 2014 at 7:37 pm # Like! Reply David van Wingerden August 9, 2014 at 6:52 am # Lots of misinformation about neonics. Some growers used them outside the labeled legal way, and that is what will kill bees.

Most growers use them properly and you will not see dead bees around those plants.it is like using aspirin. If used properly, it is helpful. If you take the full bottle, you will have issues. Most of my plants in my yard have them at a young age, and I have bees, butterflies, hummingbirds etc. Every plant trial I have gone to uses them and those trials are constantly visited by pollinators. That said, my borage is great. I planted the volunteers next to my strawberries. Next year I will move the to the tomatoes as suggested above. Thanks for the info about using borage for edibles. It is so prolific but my wife is a little nervous about using it. Reply freespirit44 July 12, 2015 at 7:07 am # Thank you so much for your information M. Thal. The chemicals are killing our bees. We all need to plant as many organic and non-gmo plants are we can possibly do. We are planning to find some milkweed seeds and get those started in the spring. I have one Borage plant this year – so beautiful and functional for both humans and the bees. I will have many more next year.

FIND ORGANIC. No need to use chemicals – my plants are healthy and safe. The ecology of the soil has everything to do with it. If the soil is healthy and balanced the chemicals are not needed. Kayla July 20, 2014 at 9:20 am # So 1 year later – how is the Bee population? I have borage in my community plot – last year I had so many bee’s (spiders were eating them!) I haven’t seen a single bee all summer at the garden. Not a single one. I have dozens of bean plants – barely any beans. This is a serious crisis!! Reply Debbi August 22, 2014 at 11:48 am # This is the first year I have planted Borage. I live in NW Montana. It has done way beyond what I expected. The plant just keeps getting larger! There have been enough bees here this summer. My tomatoes and cucumbers have gone crazy with fruit this summer. I am sure it has helped to have the borage close by.

Reply Barbara September 19, 2014 at 4:30 pm # sorry to hear about no bees in your garden, i have a big pumpkin patch n i plant sunflowers n yellow daisys to bring them in n i live in cow country n have bee farmers too but i too had 1/2 my crop of pumpkins this yr, n butternut…going to grow lots more flowers in future to bring bees… Reply suzanne July 27, 2014 at 4:43 am # Hi, I have a few plants in my garden, dont know who gave them to me or maybe evenhow they got there? They appear to be borage, with the tough prickly leaves, but each one has only ONE upright cluster of star shaped flowers on a sturdy stem. Eminating from the main flower are many young plants which are runners from the main plant, and the flower itself on the main plant hasnt yet seeded? I just cant figure it out! Maybe its not borage! Would love to have someone’s comments.

Anni July 28, 2014 at 8:28 pm # Borage doesn’t produce runners… Do you have a picture of the plants? Reply Dorothy July 28, 2014 at 5:21 am # As for the bee here in PA we still have the bees and boy do they like this plant. This is the first year growing it and it is so pretty love the star flowers. I used the leaves to make a tea to use on a spider bite I got on my ankle seems to be helping. I also made a paste with it mix it with cornstarch to put on it. So far so good. Jure Zubak August 14, 2014 at 1:26 pm # Plese, can you sell me 50-100 kg of Borago seed. I wish to try plant it in Croatia. Best regards from Croatia, Reply Pamela August 23, 2014 at 5:35 am # I enjoyed this blog, you don’t find a lot of information about borage .

This year I have a large garden and planted a 12′ by 18′ plot of borage towards the center. I have had thousands of bees all summer. Borage is one of those flowers that replenish their nectar every half hour, so it is a very active area of the yard. Even during the rain the bees are busy gathering in my gardens. Reply Jess August 26, 2014 at 1:03 pm # Thank you for the informative post! I grew borage for the first time this year at the end of my berry patch. I had no idea it would grow to be so enormous, and COVERED in flowers! We have taken to calling it the purple monster…but we still love it! When near it, the plant seems to be buzzing, as it is so full of bees! And everything I’ve grown near it has produced generous amounts of fruit. I will certainly welcome borage in my little garden in the future. Now to try to use it in other ways. I have not been brave enough yet to try it the kitchen, or as an herbal remedy, but it seems a waste not to try.

Reply Anni August 26, 2014 at 6:25 pm # It’s absolutely wonderful in the kitchen. It’s not one of those ‘out there’ medicinal herbs. It really does just taste like cucumber, and it’s little more than a mild green. Purple monster. Love that. Reply David October 25, 2014 at 3:06 am # I live just outside Warsaw, Poland. Bee population fantastic here, butterflies too. Polish honeys are second only to Greek honey. As our glorious autumn comes to an end I’m gathering the last of the borage (still in flower) for our tortoises and wondering what I can do with it for humans. As my wife (at work) entrusted me with the cooking I’ll sneakily add some to a stew today, stripping out the stringy parts. Might make some tea too. Hope I’ll live to tell the tale. Diane November 25, 2014 at 3:20 pm # I live in New Bedford, MA….and have not seen borage blooming in this area…. I really love the fact that borage plant tends to attract bees!

If I were to plant borage seeds, would they flourish in my area; and would their re-seeding be successful over our winter? Thank you! Reply Anni November 25, 2014 at 6:23 pm # It would definitely grow in your area, and I’m pretty sure it would reseed itself if you let it. I grew it in northern Utah and it reseeded itself there, so I would hazard a guess at “yes”. Reply Tom J January 9, 2015 at 8:21 am # I’m about to begin my second season as a beekeeper in North East England. I’m keen to plant Borage in large boxes on the roofs of our two south facing bay windows at first floor level. These can be easily watered from the non-bay bedroom windows above. Good sun from mid morning onwards. Having read this article I think this plan will work, and we’ll get a long flowering season and be able to enjoy watching the honeybees foraging, from the upstairs windows. There is a suspicion among beekeepers that our new adversary, the varroa mite, dislikes the scent of borage.

So I might try nipping out some shoots of it and laying them on the floor trays of the hives too. I’ll report! Anni January 10, 2015 at 7:00 pm # Tom, That’s really interesting. I would be hugely interested in your results. If borage can keep the varroa mite away, that would be fabulous news! Cindylou September 9, 2015 at 5:27 pm # I just came across this site and I have tons of borage! I live in wi. Here the two borage plants became millions of borage! I let them just grow and now I need to harvest the borage. It is taking over my raised garden bed! Maybe I can sell the seeds or leafs? Does anyone know where I could sell the seeds? Reply Anni September 9, 2015 at 8:41 pm # Some seed sellers sell on Etsy. Be aware, though, that there are seed germination rate standards that, as a seed seller, you’ll need to abide by. When you harvest the seed, label it in batches of when/where it was harvested.

Test the germination rate of each batch and keep records of the results. Good luck! Reinette Cronje October 3, 2015 at 2:55 am # Hi Anni Thank you for the information. My borage came in a mix packet of herbs and I had no idea ho to use it. My husbands first reaction to reading your blog was “Ooo NOOO!!! were are going to eat flowers” I can’t wait to eat the flowers and drink tea. Greetings from Namibia Jen Cooney April 19, 2016 at 4:17 pm # Hey, Anni! Just wanted to give you some feedback on this article. I’m getting into gardening and deepening my plant learning, and stumbled onto this after googling “borage”. What I find to be unique and extremely helpful is that you included close ups of borage seeds and the baby plants. Very useful for so I know what to expect when they start growing. Thanks! I look forward to meandering through your blog Anni August 30, 2016 at 9:22 pm # I’m glad you found it useful! Thanks for stopping by.

Reply Christine July 9, 2016 at 11:39 am # We planted seeds on the south side of the house in Indiana during the month of April. It is July, and we are enjoying a beautiful bloom of prolific bright blue flowers. The tomato plant nearby is doing well. I am going to try freezing some blooms and perhaps using egg white powder on them to decorate a salad. Thank you for this useful site and all the interesting comments. Very helpful! Kim September 12, 2016 at 12:47 pm # I love the tea. How long does it keep if I was to bottle and refrigerate it? Three Faces of Borage Three Faces of Borage: Joel Kreisberg, DC, CCH For thousands of years, wise women and shamans have cultivated the lore of medicinal plants, based on their intuitive inner perception, their observation of the plants in the wild, and their experiences with plants as healers. The ancient herbal tradition focused primarily on physical healing, with some relatively rudimentary and generic potions for mental and emotional conditions. Homeopathy, developed 200 years ago, is a relative newcomer in the field of natural medicine.

Yet its founder, the German physician Samuel Hahnemann, translated texts of herbal medicine from around the world and used medicinal herbs as the primary source of his newly formulated pharmacy. From the very beginning, homeopathy was deeply rooted in the rich lore of herbal knowledge from the ancient past. The refinement process of the homeopathic pharmacy brought out the subtle power of plants to heal a range of issues including mental, emotional, behavioral and energetic imbalances. Yet homeopathic remedies maintained the strengths of their herbal predecessors in addressing physical conditions as well. Still more recently, the flower essence system of healing has taken the medicinal uses of plants to yet another level of refinement. Developed first by English physician Edward Bach, the flower essence system focuses entirely on emotional healing, based on the principle that healing on the soul level will heal ailments on the physical level. Integral Homeopathy Integral Homeopathy bridges ancient herbal lore, classical homeopathy and the modern practice of flower essence therapy. Integral Homeopathy offers a more complex use of medicines, by considering a variety of perspectives. All three traditions—herbs, homeopathy, flower essences—use medicinal plants in ways that overlap, yet each maintains its own perceptual lens.

This article examines how each of the three healing modalities views plants and their powers to heal, using as a model the common pot-herb Borage. Borage will first be introduced through the objective lens of botany, as Borago officinalis. Traditional Botany Thought to originate in Syria, borage is now naturalized throughout most of Europe and the United States. It flourishes as a weed near houses and on rubbish heaps. While many modern gardeners consider it a nuisance, it was traditionally grown in gardens to use as an herb, for its edible flowers, and for its ability to increase the yields of honey. The plant is easily recognized by its white prickly hairs and its bright blue star-shaped flowers. It grows to about 1-2’ high, with many hollow, almost succulent branching stems. The ovate to lanceolate leaves are 3” long and 1-1/2” wide, growing in an alternate pattern up the stems. The lower leaves are stalked, with stiff one-celled hairs on the upper surface as well as on the veins below. The deep green leaves have sinuous, wavy margins. The inch-wide bright blue star-shaped flowers have prominent black anthers forming a cone in the center.

The fruits consist of brownish-black nutlets in groups of four. Borage does well in ordinary soil. It can be propagated by division of rootstocks, however, it is easily grown from seed, which it does quite successfully on its own year after year. The seeds often grow in the same place.

(Hoffman 1995) Constituents According to the US Department of Agricultural, Borage contains: • macronutrients such as carbohydrates, protein, fats, fiber, glucose and galactose, and gamma-linolenic acid (an essential fatty acid) • vitamins such as ascorbic acid (vitamin C), beta carotene (pro-vitamin A), and choline, niacin, riboflavin and thiamine (elements of the B complex) • minerals including calcium, cobalt, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and zinc • other plant compounds including allantoin, lactic acid, malic acid, mucilage, rosmarinic acid, and tannin (Warkinton 2002) Origins of the Common Name While there are many popular theories as to the origin of the name ‘borage,’ it is believed that the Latin borago is a corruption of the word corrago, having the root cor, ‘heart’, and ago, ‘I lead.’ The plant was said to have a ‘cordial’ effect, i.e. to have a tonic and strengthening effect on the heart.

The Italian borra and French bourra, signifying ‘hair’ or ‘wool,’ are derived from the Latin burra, ‘a flock of wool.’ These names for the plant apparently refer to its thick covering of short hairs. Interestingly, the herbalist Henslow suggested that the Celtic barrach, meaning ‘a man of courage’ relates to the borage plant as well. (Grieve 1971) Historical Herbal Use The French herbalist Gerard discussed Borage by referring to the ancient Greek naturalist Pliny, who said that the plant ‘maketh a man merry and joyful.’ (Hoffman 1995) Dioscorides, the first century Greek physician, mentioned the use of Borage to ‘comfort the heart, purge melancholy and quiet the lunatic person.’ Both Pliny and Dioscorides believed Borage was the famous nepenthe of Homer, which when steeped in wine brought about forgetfulness.

John Evelyn, the seventeenth century English herbalist, spoke of Borage ‘to revive the hypochondriac and cheer the hard student’, while his contemporary Culpepper used the plant for ‘putrid and pestilential fever, the venom of serpents, jaundice, consumption, sore throat and rheumatism.’ (Hoffman 1995) The tops of Borage were used throughout Europe as a pot-herb for making soups and stews, and the young leaves were often added to salads. With a faint cucumber-like flavor, the leaves can impart coolness to sweetened drinks. It has been added to vinegars and wine to enhance flavor, and the flowers were traditionally made into candies. Modern herbals consider this plant a diuretic, promoting the activity of the kidneys; a demulcent, soothing raspy sore throats; and an emollient. (Grieve 1971) It is also used for fevers and pulmonary complaints. Other modern herbalists use borage as a restorative for the adrenal cortex for people who are overworked, exhausted and burned out. The leaves stimulate production of milk in nursing mothers.

(Hoffman 1995) Modern clinical trials have shown that Borage seed oil “reduces cardiovascular reactivity to stress by reducing the systolic blood pressure and heart rate and by increased task performance .” (Haughton 2001) It helps prevent inflammation of the gastrointestinal mucosa in cases of allergy and infection, and it may also assist in iron absorption. It has also been useful as an eyewash to relieve irritation. It has anexpectorant action, promoting the loosening of phlegm in a cough. The oil is rich in gammalinolenic and linoleic acid, used as a source of prostaglandins to treat menstrual problems and chronic skin conditions. Combined with evening primrose oil, it helps reduce blood cholesterol levels.

(Haughton 2001) Homeopathic Medicine and Empiricism As Samuel Hahnemann established the principles of homeopathic medicine between 1796 and 1804, one of the key tenets was that the action of a medicinal substance is ‘discovered’ through an empirical process or ‘proving.’ This process involves healthy people ingesting the substance and empirically noting, by self-observation, all the resulting physiological and psychological changes. Borage has recently been added to the homeopathic pharmacopeia through such a proving, conducted by four provers under the supervision of Stephen Olsen. The resulting proving journals were published (Olsen 1997) and will be briefly summarized here. The combined experience of these provers point to a remedy type of a strong-minded person who has difficulty compromising. This type of person becomes hard and abrasive or even angry to the point of rage if not listened to and from an inability to listen to others and to see different points of view. A person needing Borage fears failure. They feel that it is their duty to take on all the responsibility in a given situation, resulting in resenting their role in life.

Somatically this attitude can be expressed as stiffness in the joints, high blood pressure, tension headaches and flaring eczema. People needing the remedy Borage tend to be warmer than others and to feel worse in the heat. It seems this ‘borage type’ may have a history of taking on the role of parent in their family at young age. If a parent was missing or sick they take on heavy family responsibilities such as looking after younger siblings. Since they are often not ready for this task, they may compensate for their anxiety by taking on a more exaggerated parental nature, becoming overly protective, strict and authoritarian. They are argumentative, forceful, and angry, tending to create tension and to lack flexibility. (Olsen 1997) There is a sense that they must attend to every detail or a catastrophe will befall the family. By saving others, they are limiting the possibility that they themselves will be abandoned. Gradually they lose any playful, carefree, and spontaneous aspects, because they feel that everything has to be right. They may become very disagreeable and easily offended, resenting the choices of other people.

Flower Essence and Goethean Science Flower Essence Therapy was developed by Edward Bach in the early 20th century. (Barnard 2002) Richard Katz and Patricia Kaminski (1996) in the development of the Flower Essence Society, have taken the work of Bach and further developed its principles, using Goethean science. Borage is one of the remedies developed by the Flower Essence Society. Borage, as a flower essence, is for heavy heartedness and lack of confidence when facing challenges. The remedy is said to bring courage to the taker, providing a condition of “buoyancy of the soul”. (Katz and Kaminski 1994) Borage is said to bring “lightness and ebullience to the soul, filling it with optimism and enthusiasm.” The use of Goethean science allows the flower essence approach to consider the ‘gesture’ of the flower and the plant as a whole. The practitioner first observes the plant carefully, then meditates upon the flower, trying to bring a mental image of the plant into the mind. This active or ‘exact’ imagination allows one to “see the essential gesture of the plant” (Katz & Kaminski).

As we tend to our perceptions, our understanding becomes richer. When I did this with the Borage growing in my front yard, I first began to notice the contrast between heaviness and lightness. The stems are thick and the flowers drop back down towards the earth, yet the tiny hairs are light and almost translucent. The leaves have a heavy mucilaginous, watery quality, while the light blue flowers have a richness and lightness of color. The star flower radiates outward, with well defined symmetry. The newly blossomed flowers look up toward the sun before nodding downward with age. This uplifting form bestows lightness and speaks of spiritual harmony. I chose to meditate with the borage plant when I was feeling heavyhearted myself, and I could feel my inner state resonating with the drooping of the older flowers. Yet the longer I meditated, the more I could feel the lightness and upliftment of the newer flowers soothing my heart. The full vitality of the plant in spring becomes quiet and calm in the summer months, dying back in the full summer sun.

The heavy nodding of the flowers down to earth links Borage to usage for venous blood such as phlebitis, where gravity plays a part in the action of the blood stream. (Pelikan 1997) Borage: a Remedy for An Integral Homeopathy Each healing modality which uses Borage— medical herbalism, classical homeopathy and flower essence therapy—illumines different aspects of this plant. In Integral Homeopathy, the practitioner uses any of these forms of the remedy, depending on which aspect of the plant is needed. As an herb, it comforts the heart, bringing cheer, restoring adrenal functioning, promoting lactation in nursing mothers and healing fevers of pulmonary origin. As well, it reduces cholesterol and soothes the gastric mucosa and respiratory tract. As a homeopathic remedy, it brings playfulness and spontaneity to persons who have been burdened by family responsibility, becoming hardened and resentful. Their argumentativeness stems from their protective nature due to their anxiety about the family’s welfare. The flower essence promotes optimism and enthusiasm in a person who has suffered burdens experienced in the heart. A central theme emerges: Borage is a remedy for heaviness of the heart, bringing lightness and flexibility.

Dioscorides’ remarkable observation of two thousand years ago is consistent with all three modern perspectives: he said that Borage ‘cheers the heart and helps drooping spirits.’ May the reader find Borage, as a remedy or flower essence or even a living plant to meditate with, as a healing balm for a heaviness of the heart. References Borage, Blue, Borago officinalis, Organic Seeds Description Details Blue flowers are always welcome in the garden and Borage is one of the most reliable sources, often flowering lavishly about eight weeks after sowing and continuing until the first serious frosts. It grows best in full sun where it tends to have a more compact habit, but it easily tolerates a partial sun exposure. Although the flowering period is typically June to September, many plants extend that period. The plants will happily grow in just about any soil type as long as it drains well and likes to be kept somewhat moist throughout the growing season. Borage is a very important flower for both bees and beekeepers. The flowers which grow around the stem appear from early spring right through to autumn, provide both pollen and nectar in prodigious amounts throughout the season.

Garden visitors can be converted to herbal advocates simply by offering a taste of its white flower. They are pleasantly surprised to find it has a definite but subtle cucumber aftertaste. The edible, star shaped flowers add an unusual touch to summer salads and cakes, or can be used to decorate summer drinks like Pimms and cordials. Organic Seed. This seed has been organically produced. The seed has been harvested from plants that have themselves been raised organically, without the use of chemicals. Sowing: Sow early/ late spring indoors or direct in mid to late spring. Borage can be sown early indoors or directly outdoors once the soil has warmed. It is not suitable for container growing as it has a very long tap root. Sowing Indoors. Sow in January to February…normally 4 to 8 weeks before planting outside. Sow at 1.5mm (1/16in) deep in pots or trays in a good seed compost. Make sure the compost is moist but not wet and seal inside a polythene bag until germination which usually takes 5 to 21 days at 21°C (70°F).

Transplant the indoor seedlings when large enough to handle into boxes, spacing them 5cm (2in) apart. Gradually acclimatise to outdoor conditions for 10 to 15 days before planting out after all risk of frost 15cm (6in) apart in full sun and ordinary well-drained soil. The young borage must be handled carefully; especially when it is being transplanted from one place to another as it has a very long tap root that is easily damaged. Sowing Direct. Sow in March to April. Prepare the area well, marking the area to be sown with sand, Sow to a depth of 3mm (1/8in). Space 10-15cm (6in) apart. Water in well. Once seeds have germinated, check and thin out if necessary, any seedlings may be transplanted. The plants will grow quite fast and are quite recognisable from weeds, continue to water throughout periods without rain. External contact with fresh borage leaves may cause skin rashes in some sensitive persons. The prickly hairs can be irritating so you may wish to use gloves when handling the plant.

Plant Uses: Cottage/Informal Garden, Flowers Borders and Beds or Wildlife Plants. Beekeeping, Companion Plant, Culinary Herb Companion Plants: Borage is good companion plant to have in the vegetable garden as the insects it attracts make good pollinators for crops. It is a very useful companion plant to strawberries, as they are believed to stimulate each other's growth. As a companion plant to tomatoes, it is believed that borage deters tomato worm, and is thus a natural form of pest control. Borage is attractive to blackfly, this can be used to advantage by planting it as a decoy close to one's fruits and vegetables to prevent them being blighted - an excellent companion plant for beans and peas. Borage is also good as a green manure. Its long taproot brings up nutrients from the subsoil that remain in the leaves. Before the plant flowers the plants can be dug back into the ground to release the nutrients back into the topsoil. Culinary Uses: The flower, which contains the non-toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloid thesinine, has a sweet honey-like taste and as one of the few truly blue-coloured edible things, is often used to decorate desserts.

Vegetable use of borage is common in Germany, in the Spanish regions of Aragón and Navarra, in the Greek island of Crete and in the Italian northern region Liguria. Although often used in soups, one of the better known German borage recipes is the Green Sauce (Grüne Soße) made in Frankfurt. In Italian Liguria, borage is commonly used as filling of the traditional pasta ravioli and pansoti. It is used to flavour pickled gherkins in Poland. The leaves and flowers were originally used in the manufacture of Pimms before it was replaced by mint. It is traditionally used as a garnish in the Pimms Cup cocktail, but is often replaced by cucumber if not available. Historical Uses: In folk tradition, borage has long been believed to dispel melancholy and ease grief and sadness. According to Dioscorides, borage can 'cheer the heart and lift the depressed spirits', while Gerard wrote that its flowers were used in salads 'to exhilarate and make the minde glad' while cooks used them 'for the comfort of the heart, to drive away sorrow, and increase the joy of the minde'.

The Greeks and Romans believed that the herb was a source of courage and comfort, and there are references to the flowers being embroidered into medieval tapestries and the colours of jousting knights. The blooms were even floated in drinks consumed by Crusaders before battle. The American settlers carried borage seed with them on their long journeys across the Atlantic Ocean. Medicinal Uses: European herbalists use borage for both internal and external uses. It is used in homeopathic remedies and as a flower essence. It is a cooling, cleansing and refreshing herb with adaptogenic, demulcent, diuretic, expectorant and anti-inflammatory properties. The starflower has been chosen as the emblem for National Cancer Day by the Cancer Research Campaign. The flower will adorn buttonholes on May 23 has been used in the worldwide treatment and research of cancer for 700 years, according to the charity. In recent years, borage has been shown to contain gamma linoleic acid (GLA), an omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid, which is active against various cancers, including breast, brain and prostate. It prevents the spread of malignant tumours by restricting blood vessel growth.

Borage has the most potent concentration of gamma linoleic acid found in nature, containing twice as much as is found in the evening primrose, and which is used to treat pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS). It is now possible to buy capsules of borage seed oil from health food shops for this purpose. Home Uses: A poultice of crushed Borage leaves is soothing and healing to skin inflammations. It will relieve insect bites and stings, reduce swelling and bruising and is also helpful for clearing up boils and rashes. Borage tea can be made by taking a small bunch of leaves and flowers and simmering in boiling water. Steep for five minutes and strain. If mixed with honey, this can help if one is suffering from a cold. Borage tea will relieve fevers, and promote sweating. It is a beneficial treatment for dry cough, throat irritation, chest colds and bronchitis. Borage tea is also a good remedy for such digestive disturbances as gastritis and irritable bowel syndrome. It is also said to help cure a hangover. Origin: Borage originated in Syria, but is naturalised throughout the Mediterranean region, as well as Asia Minor, Europe, North Africa, and South America.

The flowers are usually a vivid sky blue, although an occasional pink bloom does appear, there is also a rare species with white flowers. Nomenclature: The origin of the name is unclear, but the Celts referred to it as borrach, meaning 'courage'. Others, however, believe that its name is derived from the French word borrache, which means 'hairy' or 'rough', and which could be a reference to its bristly stems and leaves. Borage was called the "herb of gladness" by the Welsh. When Linnaeus invented the binomial system of nomenclature, he gave the specific name 'officinalis' to plants (and sometimes animals) with an established medicinal, culinary, or other use. The word officinalis is derived from the Latin officina meaning a storeroom (of a monastery) for medicines and necessaries. It literally means 'of or belonging in an officina'. It was officially recognised as a medicinal herb. It conjures up images of a storeroom where apothecaries and herbalists stored their herbs.

Borage is commonly known as - Burrage, Burage, Bugloss, Bourrache, Bee Plant, Cool Tankard, Langue de Boeuf, Ox-tongue or Tailwort. The oil expressed from the seeds is often called "starflower oil" Borage honey: Borage honey is very distinctive, it one of the clearest honeys you can find and has a subtle, aromatic aroma. In the UK Borage honey is a specialty of East Yorkshire where much of the borage is grown. For the last ten years borage has been grown by a considerable number of farmers. It is grown for its small black seeds which are harvested and crushed to make borage oil, or starflower oil, which has similar properties to evening primrose oil. The oil is very valuable and farmers and beekeepers have a mutually beneficial relationship. Beekeepers get lots of honey and farmers get increased yields as their flowers are pollinated by the bees. Thousands of acres of borage are grown. Farmers like one hive for every acre so that there are sufficient bees to pollinate all the flowers. Beekeepers travel with their bees from far afield in late June.

Borage flowering coincides with the maximum population of the hives which can reach 50,000 to 60,000 bees in each. In large fields there can be millions of bees from dozens of hives. If the summer is particularly hot hives can collect 80 to 100lb of honey each from a borage field. With its distinctive colour and subtle taste, borage honey has rapidly become a favourite in the area. There are up to 20,000 beekeepers in Britain. If you would like to join them, contact your local association via the British Bee Keepers Association ( at the National Agricultural Centre, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire CB8 2LZ (02476 696679). Additional Information Borage: Looks Good Enough To Eat Borage: Looks Good Enough To Eat by Polly Borage, a cucumber-flavored herb, is a great addition to your garden. My mum always swore by borage as a surefire cheerer-upper. Anytime I was feeling down in the dumps, she’d make me a big dish of potato salad made special with borage flowers.

Nowadays, I also add them to tossed salads, sprinkle them on cottage cheese, or blend them with cream cheese to make a sandwich spread. One of the most versatile herbs, borage has been used around the world in foods ranging from ravioli filling to pickling spices. Both flowers and leaves are mild, but flavorful. Use one or the other, though: The leaves taste their best before the flowers appear. Besides being a mood lifter and a taste treat, borage packs a good supply of vitamin C, calcium and potassium. Borage is an annual herb with star shaped blue flowers, easy to grow and magic in companion planting. Borage gets along with any type of fruits and vegetables such as beans, melons, cucumbers, squash, berries and tomatoes to improve the productivity and taste of these plants. Borage also attracts beneficial insects such as bees for pollination and predatory wasps for organic pest control. Bumblebees and other pollinators adore borage blossoms. Strawberry growers often plant borage near strawberries to increase yield, perhaps because the flowers attract pollinating bees. It also repels the tomato hornworm, cabbage moths and cabbage worms. Borage is an excellent green material for composting.

It breaks down very quickly because it is high in moisture content. Borage self-seeds freely, so the herbs tend to reappear every year on their own. Borage grows best if direct seeded. Barely cover the seeds with soil and keep well watered. They are tolerant of any type soil, even poor dry soil. If you choose to start seedlings, transplant before they become pot bound. Borage has a scraggly, unkempt growth habit, so plant closely together so the plants will help support each other. Though many folks do not appreciate borage, I definitely do. For starters, it’s blue, and I cannot get enough of the blues! Secondly, it’s just about the earliest plant in the garden to begin blooming, just after rosemary, and such a welcome sight of spring and summer. Borage blooms fairly steadily up until frost. Bloom time can be extended by dead heading the flowers. Save the flowers and get the seeds for the next year’s borage crop. For me, everything about borage is positive, its blueness, its attractiveness to bees, its size (1-3′), and its free-seeding quality.

Some gardeners have complained about the difficulty of handling borage because of its prickly hairiness. Wear gloves! And finally, I love those tiny star-shaped flowers because they are edible. I hold the stem, and with a simple pinch in the middle of the blue corolla, out it pops, intact. That electric blue does wonders for a monochromatic side dish. Borage’s blue color flowers are a tantalizing garnish on canapes, (smoked salmon is particularly nice). They are also tasty on grilled onions sprinkled with balsamic vinegar; the color combination is dramatic. When using borage flowers in a salad, be sure to add them on top at the last minute to avoid wilting and discoloration. Another colorful and tasty combination is shrimp and avocado, with a lemon vinaigrette and borage flowers. The leaves have a light cucumber taste. But, be sure to cut the leaves up small enough to negate the hairiness. Cook like spinach or add to spinach, add to bean and pea soups, use with fish or make Borage fritters by dipping the leaves in batter and frying until crisp. Leaves are used raw, stems are steamed and sautéed, much as spinach is.

Stems can be used as you would celery. Want to know more about borage? Then click here: Tweet me in Tweeter and follow me on Facebook. Yours truly, Polly – Organic Gardener Borago officinalis Borage, Common borage,Cool-tankard, Tailwort PFAF Plant Database Physical Characteristics Borago officinalis is a ANNUAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in) at a medium rate. It is hardy to zone (UK) 7 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from Jun to October, and the seeds ripen from Jul to October. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees.It is noted for attracting wildlife. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Synonyms Borago advena, Borago aspera, Borago hortensis Habitats Hedgerow; Cultivated Beds; South Wall. In. West Wall. In. Edible Uses Edible Uses: Colouring ; Oil ; Tea . Leaves - raw or cooked[2, 5, 7, 14, 115, 183]. They can be used as a pot-herb or be added to salads[4]. They are also added whole as a flavouring to various drinks such as Pimms and wine-based drinks[238]. The leaves are rich in potassium and calcium, they have a salty cucumber flavour[200]. Very hairy, the whole leaves have an unpleasant feeling in the mouth and so they are best chopped up finely and added to other leaves when eaten in a salad[K]. The leaves should always be used fresh, because they lose their flavour and colour if dried[244]. Flowers - raw. They are used as a decorative garnish on salads and summer fruit drinks[2, 5, 7, 14, 183].

The flowers are very nice, both to look at and to taste with a sweet slightly cucumber-like flavour[K]. A refreshing tea is made from the leaves and/or the flowers[21, 183]. The dried stems are used for flavouring beverages[183]. The seed yields 30% oil, 20% of which is gamma-linolenic acid[141]. Total yields are 0.35 - 0.65 tonnes per hectare[141]. Unfortunately, the seed ripens intermittently over a period of time and falls from the plant when it is ripe, this makes harvesting the seeds in quantity very difficult[K]. An edible blue dye can be obtained from the flowers. It is used to colour vinegar[183]. Medicinal Uses Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally. Hypotensive ; Lenitive ; Poultice ; Sedative ; Skin ; Women's complaints . Borage is a fairly common domestic herbal remedy that has been used since ancient times[244].

It has a particularly good reputation for its beneficial affect on the mind, being used to dispel melancholy and induce euphoria[244]. It is a soothing saline, diuretic herb that soothes damaged or irritated tissues[238]. The leaves, and to a lesser extent the flowers, are demulcent, diaphoretic, depurative, mildly diuretic, emollient, expectorant, febrifuge, lenitive and mildly sedative[4, 7, 9, 14, 201, 238]. An infusion is taken internally in the treatment of a range of ailments including fevers, chest problems and kidney problems[4], though it should not be prescribed to people with liver problems. Externally it is used as a poultice for inflammatory swellings[4, 7]. The leaves are harvested in late spring and the summer as the plant comes into flower. They can be used fresh or dried but should not be stored for more than one year because they soon lose their medicinal properties[238].

The seeds are a rich source of gamma-linolenic acid, this oil helps to regulate the hormonal systems and lowers blood pressure[238]. It is used both internally and externally, helping to relieve skin complaints and pre-menstrual tension[238]. Used for the treatment of phlebitis (inflammation of the veins) [301]. Other Uses The growing plant is said to repel insects[14]. A blue dye is obtained from the flowers[7]. This turns pink on contact with acids[238]. Cultivation details Landscape Uses:Border, Foundation, Massing. A very easily grown plant, succeeding in ordinary garden soil[1], preferring a dry soil[37] and a sunny position[138]. It grows particularly well in loose, stony soils with some chalk and sand[244]. Plants are tolerant of poor dry soils, though much bigger specimens are produced when the plants are growing in better conditions[238]. Tolerates a pH in the range 4.8 to 8.3. Borage is often grown as a culinary plant in the herb garden[1, 7].

Although an annual, it usually maintains itself by self-sowing, sometimes in quite a prolific manner, as long as the soil is disturbed by hoeing etc[14, 188]. Plants often develop mildew when growing in dry conditions or towards the end of the growing season[238]. Flowers are a deeper blue when grown in poorer soils[138]. The flowers are rich in a sweet nectar and are very attractive to bees[7, 14, 20, 108, 244]. The growing plant is a good companion for strawberries, tomatoes, courgettes and most other plants[14, 201, 238]. It is said to deter Japanese beetle and tomato hornworms[238]. Special Features:Edible, Fragrant foliage, Not North American native, Invasive, Naturalizing, Suitable for dried flowers, Extended bloom season in Zones 9A and above. Propagation Seed - sow April/May in situ. The plants quickly develop a stout tap-root and do not transplant successfully[238]. The seed can also be sown in situ in the autumn, this will produce larger plants and earlier flowering[4].

The plant usually self-sows prolifically. Other Names Found In Weed Potential Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking. Conservation Status IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : Related Plants

Question: What colour are borage flowers?
Answer: BLUE