Borago officinalis – The versatile and edible borage

A beautiful and useful plant for the garden and kitchen

Borago officinalis, also known as borage, is an annual plant known for its bright blue, star-shaped flowers and large, soft leaves. Borage is not only visually appealing but also culinary and ecologically valuable, making it a real asset to gardens, balconies, and vegetable patches.

The plant is a favourite of bees and other pollinators and is often used in salads, teas and cocktails, as well as a useful ground cover in organic gardens.

Characteristics of Borago officinalis

Borago officinalis grows upright and bushy, reaching a height of 60–80 cm. The plant produces bright blue flowers with a white center, which bloom from early to late summer. Both the flowers and leaves are edible and add a mild cumin-like flavor to dishes.

Key Features:

• 🌿 Type: Annual plant

• 🌸 Flower color: Bright blue, star-shaped

• ⚡ Harvestable: Leaves from 8 weeks after sowing; flowers from the first flowering

• 🌱 Sowing depth: 0.5–1 cm

• 🌞 Location: Full sun to partial shade

• ❄️ Winter hardy: Not winter hardy (annual plant)

• 🐝 Ecological benefit: Attractive to bees, butterflies and other pollinators

Cultivation and care

Sowing: Directly in open ground or in pots; sow 0.5–1 cm deep and cover lightly with soil.
Soil: Well-drained, fertile, and slightly moist; tolerant of various soil types.
Watering: Water regularly, especially during dry spells, but avoid overly wet soil.
Fertilizing: A light organic fertilizer or compost when sowing early encourages healthy growth.
Care: Thin the seedlings so each plant has enough space to develop optimally; remove faded flowers to prolong flowering.

Harvest and use

Borago officinalis offers both culinary and ecological benefits.
Culinary uses:

• Raw flowers for salads, desserts or cocktails

• Leaves for soup, pesto or stews

• Tea made from dried flowers for a mild cumin-like aroma

Ecological applications:

• Attracting bees and pollinators to vegetable gardens and garden beds

• Ground cover to reduce weed growth

• Visually attractive addition to flower mixtures and borders

Benefits of Borago officinalis

✅ Edible flowers and leaves – culinary versatile
✅ Attractive to pollinators – bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects
✅ Early maturing and productive – leaves and flowers available throughout the summer
✅ Low maintenance – easy to grow in beds, borders or pots
✅ Visually attractive – bright blue star-shaped flowers for borders and flower mixtures
✅ Ecologically beneficial – strengthens biodiversity in the garden

Summary

• Latin name: Borago officinalis

• Type: Annual plant

• Flower color: Bright blue, star-shaped

• Height: 60–80 cm

• Location: Sun to partial shade

• Sowing depth: 0.5–1 cm

• Harvest: Leaves from 8 weeks after sowing, flowers from first flowering

• Special features: Edible flowers and leaves, attractive to pollinators, low maintenance