Borage, scientifically known as Borago officinalis, is a captivating herb recognized by its striking appearance and rich history. This plant features fuzzy, gray-green leaves and stems covered in bristly white hairs, supporting clusters of vibrant blue, star-shaped flowers. Originating in the Mediterranean region, borage has been cultivated for centuries for both its culinary and medicinal applications. Borage is technically an annual herb, meaning it completes its growth, flowering, and seed production within a single growing season.
The Annual vs. Self-Seeding Debate
The confusion over whether borage is an annual or a perennial arises because it is a prolific self-seeder, leading many gardeners to believe it returns year after year. An annual plant dies completely after setting seed, but borage produces seeds over a long flowering season. These seeds drop readily and remain dormant in the soil over winter.
When the soil warms in the following spring, these self-sown seeds germinate quickly, often appearing where the parent plant grew. This spontaneous reappearance mimics the behavior of a perennial, which survives via its root structure. True perennial growth involves the same individual plant surviving multiple seasons, whereas borage’s return is the result of a new generation of seedlings.
The volume of seeds produced ensures that new volunteer plants sprout reliably. Gardeners can manage these volunteers by pulling the excess seedlings or transplanting them when they are small. This self-seeding characteristic allows the plant to persist in gardens across various climates, despite its annual classification.
Essential Growing Conditions
Borage is a robust and adaptable herb that thrives with minimal fuss, suitable for both experienced and novice gardeners. The plant performs best in full sun, though it is tolerant of partial shade, which can be beneficial in hotter climates. Providing at least six hours of direct sunlight promotes vigorous growth and abundant flowering.
The herb is not particular about soil quality and will grow satisfactorily in average garden soil. However, good drainage is necessary to prevent the roots from becoming waterlogged. Borage is best planted directly from seed after the last threat of frost has passed, typically when soil temperatures reach between 60°F and 70°F.
Seeds should be sown about half an inch deep and kept consistently moist until germination, which usually occurs within one to two weeks. Since borage can grow quite large, reaching up to three feet tall and wide, thin the seedlings to a spacing of 12 to 18 inches apart. Once established, the plants are moderately drought-tolerant, requiring only moderate watering.
Key Applications in the Garden and Kitchen
Borage offers a duality of purpose, providing both practical benefits in the garden and unique flavors in the kitchen.
Culinary Uses
In culinary use, the bright blue, star-shaped flowers are the most popular part, often used as an edible garnish in salads, desserts, and summer drinks. The flowers possess a delicate, sweet, honey-like taste often described as having a cucumber flavor. Young leaves are also edible and share that refreshing, salty cucumber flavor. As the leaves age, the bristly hairs become more pronounced, making them less palatable for fresh consumption; they should be finely chopped or cooked like spinach. Borage leaves are rich in minerals and have been used traditionally in herbal remedies.
Garden Benefits
In the garden, borage is prized as an exceptional companion plant and a resource for local wildlife. Its flowers are a powerful magnet for pollinators, attracting honeybees, hummingbirds, and other beneficial insects. Planting borage near vegetables like tomatoes, squash, and strawberries is thought to help deter certain pests by attracting beneficial predatory insects. The plant acts as a dynamic accumulator, drawing up trace minerals from deep in the soil, which are returned to the topsoil when the plant decays or is used as green manure.