Borage

Borage (Borago officinalis)

Borage is a versatile, edible herb known for centuries to dispel melancholy and enhance mood. It grows very easily in the garden and we plant it throughout our vegetable beds as a companion plant. Bees adore borage and the plant will be humming with activity all summer!

Borage plants generally grow to about 24" tall and are about the same size in width. You might notice plants with white blooms (alba variety) and blooms on both blue and white flowering plants occasionally present in a pink color. 

Borage flowers are edible and they have a great flavor that the kids describe as a mix of cucumber and honey. 

Origin: The same strain of borage has grown in our garden for 20 years. We saved the parent seed from the garden of a friend in Swannanoa, NC. 

(Approximately 35 seeds per packet)

Germination rate: 90% - tested 8/30/24

Planting Instructions: Sow a group of 3 seeds 1/2" deep every 12" when soil can be worked in spring. Full sun to part shade. 24-30" height.  

Recipe Ideas:

Borage has a great flavor and we like to put the flowers into salads. One of our favorite things to do with borage flowers is to freeze them in ice-cube trays. The borage ice-cubes make summertime drinks extra fancy! 

We also make borage vinegar. Just steep borage flowers in white vinegar for about 24 hrs. (the vinegar will become pink!) Then, remove the flowers and the vinegar will have a wonderful cucumber/honey flavor. We use borage vinegar in salad dressings and in marinades and it lends a fantastic floral flavor.