Borago officinalis Borage (Boraginaceae)

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Borago officinalis
Borage
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The Borago officinalis plant species is found in C. Europe. A garden escape in Britain[17]. It is a member of the Boraginaceae family. Common gardeners may know the plant as Borage.

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

Latin Name:  Borago officinalis
Common Name:  Borage
Family:  Boraginaceae
Author:  L.

Known Hazards:  The plant, but not the oil obtained from the seeds, contains small amounts of pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can cause liver damage and liver cancer[238]. 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[K].

Mature Height:  0.6   Mature Width:  0.3

Habitat:  Waste ground near houses in Britain[17].

Cultivation Notes: A very easily grown plant, succeeding in ordinary garden soil[1], preferring a dry soil[37] and a sunny position[138]. It grows particularly well in loose, stony soils with some chalk and sand[244]. Plants are tolerant of poor dry soils, though much bigger specimens are produced when the plants are growing in better conditions[238]. Tolerates a pH in the range 4.8 to 8.3. Borage is often grown as a culinary plant in the herb garden[1, 7]. Although an annual, it usually maintains itself by self-sowing, sometimes in quite a prolific manner, as long as the soil is disturbed by hoeing etc[14, 188]. Plants often develop mildew when growing in dry conditions or towards the end of the growing season[238]. Flowers are a deeper blue when grown in poorer soils[138]. The flowers are rich in a sweet nectar and are very attractive to bees[7, 14, 20, 108, 244]. The growing plant is a good companion for strawberries, tomatoes, courgettes and most other plants[14, 201, 238]. It is said to deter Japanese beetle and tomato hornworms[238].

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Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

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