Recently, I’ve discovered the joy of growing borage! It’s truly a beautiful plant that’s super easy to grow, and it has some great uses as a medicinal plant and an edible flower. The star-shaped blue blooms are an absolute hit with the bees, too. This charming herb works in the vegetable garden, a flower bed, or even in containers. Let’s look at borage and why you should be growing it in your garden.
Meet Borage: Your Garden's Resilient and Rewarding Herb
Borage, or Borago officinalis, is an annual plant that has been grown for ages as an ornamental and practical plant. Like many aromatic herbs, it hails from the Mediterranean region, but it is fairly adaptable to a wide range of growing conditions. It has fuzzy stems, slightly bristly leaves, and smells a little bit like a cucumber. Even though this herb is an annual, it self-seeds so easily that you might think it’s a perennial. You’ll see it pop up year after year once you’ve planted it, and won’t have to worry about replacing it.
Borage is an edible plant. Borage microgreens or young leaves have a fresh, cucumber-like flavor and are most often eaten raw as an addition to sandwiches or salads. The flowers can be candied or used as an attractive garnish to your drinks, desserts, and more. It’s a lovely addition to your kitchen, but you probably are more familiar with borage as a beneficial medicinal herb.
Borage for Courage: Medicinal Uses and Benefits
Traditionally, herbalists used borage to support mood, combat inflammation, and soothe skin irritation. Since ancient times, it has been associated with bravery. “Borage for courage!” is an old phrase that ties to its traditional uses as a mood booster. Roman soldiers reportedly drank borage wine to prepare for battle, and it has been used since then to bolster low spirits and ease stress.
Borage seeds are especially high in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), which is an omega-6 that helps fight inflammation. That’s why you can find borage seed oil in skincare and as a supplement to support joint health and hormonal balance.
To use borage medicinally, you can steep fresh or dried leaves and flowers in hot water for 5 to 10 minutes. The flavor is light, with a cucumber scent. Borage oil and cooled tea can be used as a salve or compress. Use borage internally occasionally, not daily, as it does contain small amounts of natural compounds that can be harmful to the liver in large doses over time. Avoid borage if you’re pregnant or nursing.
Borage in the Garden
Beyond being an edible and medicinal plant, borage can also bring beauty and function to your garden.
Bee Favorite - Borage has nectar rich blue flowers that honeybees and bumblebees can’t resist! They bloom for a long season, drawing more pollinators to the garden.
Companion Plant - This pretty herb also improves the health and even flavor of nearby plants, so use it as a companion plant. Tomatoes, squash, and strawberries are all good neighbors for borage. Some gardeners have found that it deters tomato hornworms and cabbage worms.
Drought-Tolerant & Low Maintenance - Once your borage plants are well-established, they thrive with very little water or care. You can neglect it and it’ll still bloom like crazy, making you feel like a gardening rockstar.
Soil Improvements - Borage draws nutrients from deep in the soil, particularly potassium and calcium. Chop the leaves and drop them where they are at the end of the season to let the plant debris break down and return those nutrients to the soil.
Growing Borage from Seed
It’s simplest to sow borage seeds directly into a sunny spot after the last frost. It can also be started indoors 6-8 weeks ahead of time. Seeds will germinate in 7-14 days. If you are transplanting borage, you’ll need to take extra care to protect the taproot from damage. Space seedlings 18-24" apart to allow plenty of room for this bushy plant to grow. Once established, it’s fuss-free and requires minimal maintenance.
Growing borage from seed is easy and rewarding! A single packet of seeds can turn into a summer of blooms or more, depending on whether you allow your plants to reseed themselves. It’s a beginner-friendly medicinal plant and ornamental flower that you’ll love adding to your space. Grab some borage seeds and enjoy this delightful herb in your own home garden.
