Description:
This
self-seeding plant has many leaves on branched, hollow stems covered
with stiff white hairs. The drooping flowers are on racemes. The
star-shaped blue corollas are 3/4 inch wide with five segments and
five stamens with black anthers. The ovate to oblong lanceolate
leaves are up to 6 inches long and form a rosette. The upper leaves
are wrinkled, rough, and hairy.
Plant type and hardiness:
Annual;
hardiness zones are not applicable to annuals.
Height and width:
Height
24 to 36 inches or more; width 16 to 20 inches or more.
Light and soil:
Full
sun; fairly rich, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.6.
Pests and disease:
Japanese
beetles may attack new growth.
Cultivation:
In
areas with cold weather, sow the oblong black seeds in the spring
in shallow drills about 12 inches apart. The soil should be reasonably
fine, moist, and in partial sun. Sheltering the plants from strong
winds will help keep the soft main stems from breaking under the
weight of the plant. Borage blooms nearly all season and will self-seed
from year to year. Plants do best when allowed to grow in thick
clumps for support. These shallow-rooted plants are easy to thin
when they become overgrown.
Propagation method:
Seeds
sown after last frost.
Bloom time and color:
June
to July; blue.
Harvesting:
Borage
leaves and flowers can be used fresh any time. Drying leaves and
flowers is possible, but must be done quickly to prevent spoilage.
Remove flowers and leaves from stalks and place on a wire rack in
a shady, airy site. When dry, place them in airtight containers.
Crystallize the flowers for decorating cakes and trifles or freeze
in ice cube trays for later use.
Herbal uses:
Culinary,
decorative, and medicinal. Leaves can be eaten raw or sauteed like
spinach. They are used in teas and to flavor wine cups. The candied
leaves or stems can be used with cheese, fish, poultry, most vegetables,
green salads, iced beverages, pickles, and salad dressing. The flowers
are used for garnish or in salads. The plants attract bees and butterflies,
and the blue flowers are very attractive. Borage can be grown in
containers indoors. It is said to have medicinal qualities.
Insiders Secret:
The
plants might get very top-heavy and spread much more than noted
on the seed packet. Borage
plants can crush smaller plants nearby or shade late-growing herbs.
Plant borage with support in
a clump in the back of the garden away from others plants. It will
reseed itself from year to
year.Plant with strawberries to improve yield. Borage attracts bees,
so plant where pollination is needed. It also is said to strengthen
insect and disease resistance in nearby plants.
Borage
originated in the Middle East and was associated with bravery. The ancient
Celtic warriors drank borage-flavored wine to give them courage. Herbalists
believed that borage imparted a sense of well-being, and the Roman scholar
Pliny considered it to be an antidepressant. The five-pointed brilliant
blue flowers were once favorite subjects in needlework.