Christian Orlandi / CC BY-SA 4.0
herb
Borage
Borago officinalis
EdibleMedicinalDrought Tolerant
Edible Partsleaves, flowers
Overview
A cheerful herb with brilliant blue star-shaped flowers that taste like cucumber, borage has been called the herb of courage since Roman soldiers ate it before battle. Its drooping clusters of flowers are among the best bee plants in the garden, producing copious nectar throughout the growing season. Every part of the plant is useful — leaves, flowers, and oil-rich seeds.
Growing Conditions
LightFull Sun
MoistureDry
Hardiness Zones3 — 10
Height0.6m
Spread0.4m
Growth HabitForb/herb
LifespanAnnual
Bloom Colorblue
Pollinator Valuehigh
Companion Planting & Soil
Good Companions
Soil pH6 — 7
Soil TypeAverage, well-drained soil; tolerates poor soils
Planting Calendar
When to sow, transplant, and harvest by growing zone.
| Zone | Action | Months | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cold (1-2) | Direct Sow | May — Jun | Direct sow after last frost; does not transplant well due to taproot |
| Cold (1-2) | Harvest | Jun — Aug | Harvest young leaves and blue star-shaped flowers; cucumber flavor |
| Cool (3-4) | Direct Sow | Apr — Jun | Direct sow in spring; self-sows prolifically |
| Cool (3-4) | Harvest | May — Sep | Pick flowers for salads; leaves best when young |
| Moderate (5-7) | Direct Sow | Mar — May | Sow in spring; excellent bee plant and companion for tomatoes |
| Moderate (5-7) | Harvest | Apr — Oct | Harvest flowers and young leaves continuously |
| Warm (8-9) | Direct Sow | Feb — Mar | Sow in late winter/spring |
| Warm (8-9) | Direct Sow | Sep — Oct | Fall sowing for mild winter gardens |
| Warm (8-9) | Harvest | Mar — May | Harvest before summer heat |
| Warm (8-9) | Harvest | Oct — Dec | Fall harvest |
| Hot (10+) | Direct Sow | Oct — Nov | Fall sow; grows through cool season |
| Hot (10+) | Harvest | Nov — Mar (wraps) | Harvest during cool season |
Uses
Culinary
- Flowers frozen in ice cubes for cocktails and punches
- Young leaves added to salads for cucumber flavor
- Flowers candied as cake and dessert decorations
Medicinal
- Seed oil rich in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) for skin health
- Traditional adrenal tonic for stress and exhaustion
- Leaf tea used as a cooling febrifuge
Other Uses
- Top-tier bee and pollinator plant
- Dynamic nutrient accumulator for compost
- Companion plant that deters tomato hornworm
Safety Notes
Contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids; eat flowers only in small amounts. Avoid regular leaf consumption.
