Tips for Cultivating and Maintaining Borage Plants (Starflower)

Borage is a herbaceous plant that grows quickly and easily. It has striking blue flowers and emits a cucumber-like scent. Borage is usually grown as a companion plant to attract pollinators into vegetable gardens, but it can also act as a natural pesticide to protect tomatoes from hornworms. While borage is an annual plant, it self-seeds readily. Its star-shaped flowers hang in clusters, and its stem and leaves are covered in prickly fuzz that repels insects. It is recommended to plant borage in early spring after the threat of frost has passed. Borage prefers a well-drained soil with at least four hours of direct sunlight each day. Although borage’s leaves can be eaten, they contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which can cause mild digestive issues if consumed in large quantities. Borage is low-maintenance and can thrive in poor soil conditions. It does not require special humidity needs or support structures. Borage self-pollinates and attracts bees and other pollinators to the garden, making it a great addition to any gardening project.

Autumn Wood of The Spruce

There are different types of borage that gardeners can plant, with the most common being the pure species plant, Borago officinalis. However, two other cultivars exist: Borago officinalis ‘Variegata’ with white mottling on its green leaves and less intense flowers, and Borago officinalis ‘Alba’ also known as white borage, which blooms later in the season with sturdier plants than the common borage. Creeping borage (Borago pygmaea), a short-lived perennial species with pale blue flowers, is also available. Borage and comfrey, both flowering plants from the Boraginaceae family, can be easily distinguished by their flower colors and growth patterns. Borage leaves and flowers can add cucumber flavor and color to salads, soups, dips, beverages, and ice cubes, and young stalks are edible too. When growing borage in pots, it is recommended to use an unglazed terra cotta pot with ample drainage holes and to deadhead the plants regularly. Propagation can be done through seeds or volunteer plants, while powdery mildew can be prevented by ensuring proper air circulation and watering.