Plant Database / Herbs / Borage
Herbs

Borage

Borago officinalis
Boraginaceae

Star-blue edible flowers, a cucumber flavor, and one of the best bee plants you can grow.

EdibleAnnualPollinatorBeginner-friendly
Borage (Borago officinalis) illustration — Texas Roots plant database, by Jordan Polasek
Sun
Full sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Average
pH
6.0–7.0
Hardiness
Warm-season annual
Height
18–36 in
Spacing
18 in
Days to harvest
55

What it is

Borage (Borago officinalis) is in the Boraginaceae family. Star-blue edible flowers, a cucumber flavor, and one of the best bee plants you can grow.

How to grow it

It wants full sun, water it moderate, and give it average soil. Target a soil pH around 6.0–7.0. Space plants about 18 in apart. Expect roughly 55. Warm-season annual.

How it's used

Borage is used: flowers and young leaves.

🔎 How to identify it

  • Bristly gray-green leaves
  • Brilliant blue star flowers
  • Self-sows generously

Edibility

PartsFlowers and young leaves
UsesFlowers and young leaves
CautionOlder leaves are bristly; eat them young.
🌤 Before you plant: check the live 7-day garden weather to time it right for frost and heat.

Part of the free Texas Roots plant database, compiled by Jordan Polasek from his greenhouse in El Campo, Texas. Free to read and share. If it helped, the best thanks is to grow something.