(Borago officinalis ‘White')

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White Borage is a sprawling annual herb that is native to the Mediterranean region but can be found growing throughout the northern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches a height of 24-36” and features hairy stems and grayish-green leaves, and drooping clusters of star-shaped, bright white flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, and predatory wasps, deters tomato hornworms, tolerates drought and light frost, is both edible and medicinal and self-sows! 

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  • General Information
  • Soil Preparation
  • Germination
  • Seedlings
  • Crop Care
  • Harvesting & Storage
  • Seed Saving
  • Culinary & Medicinal
  • Companion Planting
  • Nutrition & Health Benefits
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Family: Boraginaceae

Genus: Borago 

Species: officinalis

Variety: White Borage

Native to: Algeria, Baleares, Corse, France, Greece, Italy, Kriti, Libya, Morocco, Portugal, Sardegna, Sicilia, Spain, Tunisia, Yugoslavia.

Introduced into: Alaska, Alberta, Altay, Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Argentina South, Austria, Azores, Baltic States, Belgium, Bolivia, British Columbia, Buryatiya, California, Canary Is., Central European Rus, Chile Central, Colombia, Connecticut, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, District of Columbia, Dominican Republic, East Aegean Is., East European Russia, Ecuador, Germany, Great Britain, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Illinois, Irkutsk, Jawa, Kamchatka, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Krym, Kuril Is., Lebanon-Syria, Madeira, Maine, Manitoba, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mexico Central, Mexico Southwest, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Netherlands, New Brunswick, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, New Zealand North, New Zealand South, Newfoundland, North Caucasus, North Dakota, North European Russi, Northwest European R, Nova Scotia, Ohio, Ontario, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Peru, Poland, Primorye, Prince Edward I., Puerto Rico, Québec, Rhode I., Romania, Sakhalin, Saskatchewan, South European Russi, Switzerland, Turkey, Turkey-in-Europe, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uruguay, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Siberia, West Virginia, Wisconsin.

Ease of Growing: Moderate

Grown as: Annual

Maturity (Blooms): June to August

Hardiness: Half Hardy. Borage is half hardy, and can resist light frost.

Crops: Spring

Growing Season: Short, Long

Growing Conditions: Cool, Warm. Borage thrives in cool climates and likes full sun, although it can tolerate partial shade. In hot climates, partial shade is best. The plant is very adaptable to a variety of environmental conditions and will grow very easily.

Outdoor Growing Temp: 55°F - 80°F

Min Outdoor Soil Temp: 60°F. Borage can be sowed outdoors once the soil temperature reaches roughly 60˚ F, but germinates best around 70˚ F.

Start Indoors: No

Start Outdoors: Yes

Light: Sun min. 6 hours daily (Cool, Warm). Plant Borage in a sunny part of the garden.

Water: Dry to medium. Borage seedlings will require regular watering, but once established, the plant is fairly drought tolerant.

Soil Moisture: Average, dry to medium moisture, well-drained.

Maintenance: Low

Feeder: Light. Borage will grow fine in poor soil but will grow taller in soil that is rich in nutrients and organic matter. Soil too rich in nitrogen may cause the plant to bloom less.

Suitability: Tolerates light frost

Small Gardens?: Yes

Containers?: Yes. Borage will grow well in containers that are at least 12" deep.
​
Plant Height: 24"

Spacing: 8-10" 

Sow Depth: 1/4"

Produces: hairy stems and grayish-green leaves, and drooping clusters of star shaped, bright blue flowers.

USDA Grow Zone: 2-11

Garden Uses: Best grown in herb or wild gardens. Leaves may be used in cold drinks, salads or as cooked greens. Flowers serve as attractive garnishes.
Soil Preference:
Soil pH: 4.5-8.5, Ideal 6.0-7.0. Borage is a very adaptable plant, thriving in nearly all soil types, especially in well-drained soils.

Soil Preparation:
Compost (Nitrogen), 2" in top 10" of soil, 1 time: Incorporate 2" of compost into the top 10" of soil.

Standard Mix, 5 pounds per 100 sq. ft., in top 10" of soil, 1 time: Incorporate 5 pounds of standard mix into the top 10" of soil. A standard mix will supply all necessary nutrients. This is a mix of various amendments intended to supply all of the nutrients plants may require. It is usually incorporated into the soil prior to planting. The mix consists of:

  • 4 parts cottonseed meal (this is high in nitrogen and relatively inexpensive)
  • 2 parts colloidal phosphate or bone meal (for phosphorus)
  • 2 parts wood ash or 3 parts greensand or granite dust (for potassium)
  • 1 part dolomitic limestone (to balance pH and add calcium and magnesium)
  • 1 part kelp meal (for trace elements)

Mix these together thoroughly. You can do this all at once, or you can store them separately and mix as needed.
​Borage thrives in partial shade or full sun and well drained, rich soil; it can also grow very well in poor soil or dry conditions. Since it does not transplant well, direct seeding is the best option. After the last frost of spring when the soil has warmed, sow seeds 1/4" deep and 12-15" apart in rows 18" apart. Germination should occur within 7-14 days.
Keep the soil fairly moist and weeds under control. Since too much soil contact can cause the drooping leaves to rot, a layer of mulch may be helpful. If the plant grows tall and begins to fall over, staking or a trellis may be necessary. Remove wilted blossoms to encourage new flowers.
Borage does not require very much attention, and will probably grow year after year with or without any help. Mulching can help the soil retain moisture for seedlings and during drought periods, as well as discourage weeds from competing with your plants. Mulching also helps to keep the leaves off the ground, where they could rot.

Water Needs: Moderate. Borage seedlings will require regular watering, but once established, the plant is fairly drought tolerant.

Fertilizer Needs: Light. Borage will grow fine in poor soil but will grow taller in soil that is rich in nutrients and organic matter. Soil too rich in nitrogen may cause the plant to bloom less.

Watering, regularly: Water, 0.5 inches regularly, 2 times a week. After sowing, keep the soil evenly moist to ensure adequate moisture for germination and seedlings. Once established plants can tolerate short droughts, but will be more successful if watered regularly. Watering also depends on your local weather; don't water if it's raining, or water more frequently if it's dry. Just be sure to keep soil moist but never soggy for the best crop. The best way to know how much moisture is in your soil is to feel 2" below the soil line. If it's dry, water.

Side Dressing, when 4" tall: Mulch, 2 inches, when 4" tall, 1 time. Using a 2" layer of mulch will help to keep the soil evenly moist and block weeds that would compete with your plants for nutrients and water.

Harvesting

About 6-8 weeks after planting when the plant has been well established, harvesting of the leaves can begin. Small, tender leaves are preferred for culinary use because the older leaves are covered with prickly hairs. Harvest the leaves or flowers in the morning after the dew has dried, choosing flowers that are just beginning to open. Though the leaves and flowers keep for several days in the refrigerator, they tend to lose their flavor when frozen.

Storage

​Leaves can be frozen but most gardeners only use them fresh. Place leaves in a plastic bag to freeze. You can also put them in ice cube trays for a fun, colorful addition to drinks. Kids love it!

Storage Req: Freezer 
Storage Temp: 32°F 
Storage Length: days

Leaves and stems can be refrigerated for 3 to 5 days if wrapped in a paper towel and sealed in a plastic bag.
​
Storage Req: Refrigerator 
Storage Temp: 35-40°F 
Storage Length: 1-5 days
Borage reseeds itself very easily if left alone, though the seeds can easily be collected. Remove the seed heads when they have fully matured and begin to dry; spread them out in a protected location away from direct sunlight to finish drying. Thresh the seeds and remove the debris. Store the seeds in a cool, dry place.

Seed Viability in Years: 3-5 years
Germination Percentage: 70%

Culinary

Taste: Mild, cucumber-like taste.

Culinary Use: Young, tender leaves can be used fresh in salads or cooked like spinach or other braising greens. Blue flowers add vibrant color to salads and add a taste of cucumber.  Flowers can also be used as garnish for lemonade, punch, iced tea, and even on cakes! Blooming tops can be boiled to make an herbal tea.

Medicinal

Borage is a fairly common domestic herbal remedy that has been used since ancient times. It has a particularly good reputation for its beneficial affect on the mind, being used to dispel melancholy and induce euphoria. It is a soothing saline, diuretic herb that soothes damaged or irritated tissues. The leaves, and to a lesser extent the flowers, are demulcent, diaphoretic, depurative, mildly diuretic, emollient, expectorant, febrifuge, lenitive and mildly sedative. An infusion is taken internally in the treatment of a range of ailments including fevers, chest problems and kidney problems, though it should not be prescribed to people with liver problems. Externally it is used as a poultice for inflammatory swellings. The leaves are harvested in late spring and the summer as the plant comes into flower. They can be used fresh or dried but should not be stored for more than one year because they soon lose their medicinal properties. The seeds are a rich source of gamma-linolenic acid, this oil helps to regulate the hormonal systems and lowers blood pressure. It is used both internally and externally, helping to relieve skin complaints and pre-menstrual tension.

Hazards of Borage: The plant, but not the oil obtained from the seeds, contains small amounts of pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can cause liver damage and liver cancer. These alkaloids are present in too small a quantity to be harmful unless you make borage a major part of your diet, though people with liver problems would be wise to avoid using the leaves or flowers of this plant.
Project Purity Seeds can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

Companion Planting

​Companion plant for tomatoes, squash, strawberries and most plants. Deters tomato hornworms and cabbage worms. One of the best bee and wasp attracting plants. Adds trace minerals to the soil and a good addition the compost pile. The leaves contain vitamin C and are rich in calcium, potassium and mineral salts. Borage may benefit any plant it is growing next to via increasing resistance to pests and disease. It also makes a nice mulch for most plants. Borage and strawberries help each other and strawberry farmers always set a few plants in their beds to enhance the fruits flavor and yield. Plant near tomatoes to improve growth and disease resistance. After you have planned this annual once it will self seed. Borage flowers are edible.

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems. Powdery mildew may occur.

Nutrition

The leaves contain gamma-linolenic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid. Leaves are high in Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Iron, Copper, Zinc, and B-Complex Vitamins including Niacin.

Health Benefits of Borage Essential Oils

Due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, borage oil containing GLA can be helpful for treating a wide range of both short- and long-term illnesses, including:
  • PMS symptoms (including breast pain or tenderness, anxiety, and skin breakouts)
  • Bone loss and osteoporosis (especially when combined with bone-building supplements like omega-3 fish oils)
  • ADHD symptoms
  • Skin disorders, including eczema or dermatitis
  • Menopause symptoms, including hot flashes and night sweats
  • Hormonal imbalances, including adrenal insufficiency
  • Ongoing fatigue or chronic fatigue syndrome
  • Rheumatoid arthritis pain
  • Dealing with stress
  • Managing diabetes
  • Promoting breast-milk production
  • Respiratory distress (ARDS), bronchitis, colds, coughs and fevers
  • Alcoholism
  • Inflammation causing pain and swelling
  • Preventing heart disease and stroke
    ​
Essential fatty acids, including omega-6's from plants (like nuts or seeds) and omega-3 fish oils are long-chain fatty acids that cannot be synthesized by human metabolism. Supplementation with essential fatty acids might prove effective in treating inflammatory disorders because they help correct defective conversions of fatty acids to metabolites such prostaglandin E1, which has circulation-boosting and anti-inflammatory abilities. When the body isn’t able to complete an important metabolic step that keeps anti-inflammatory enzymes at appropriate levels, it’s easier for inflammation, which is the root of most diseases, to dangerously increase over time.

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