Description

Borage Borago officinalis

Borage, also known as starflower, is an attractive wildflower and herb with striking sky-blue flowers, perfect for informal cottage gardens and wildflower spaces.  This easy-to-grow annual is suitable for most soils and thrives in a sunny position.  Borage flowers are particularly nectar-rich and very beneficial to bees and other pollinating insects.  It will make an excellent companion plant in your vegetable garden.

The flowers and the young leaves of borage are edible with a pleasing cucumber-like flavour.  Use it in salads or as a garnish or add the pretty blue flowers to summer drinks.

Borage should be surface sown in the spring from March to May at 3 grams to the square metre. It will self-seed readily so deadhead the flowers before they set seed to prevent it spreading too widely.