All flowers
Borage Wikimedia Commons
Boraginaceae

Borage

Borago officinalis

Courage and bravery.

Family
Boraginaceae
Genus
Borago
Native to
Mediterranean region
Bloom season
Spring, Summer
Type
annual herb
Height
1-3 ft
Sunlight
full sun
Soil
well-drained, average
Water
low to moderate
Hardiness
2-11
Lifespan
annual

Did you know

  • Roman soldiers drank borage-infused wine before battle, believing it would give them courage.
  • The star-shaped flowers are one of the few true blue edible flowers used in culinary garnishes.
  • Borage is one of the best companion plants for tomatoes, repelling tomato hornworms naturally.
  • Its seed oil contains high levels of gamma-linolenic acid, used in skin care products.
  • The flowers change from pink in bud to bright blue when open due to a pH change in the petals.

Color meanings

0

bluntness

1

directness

Uses

  • culinary herb
  • companion planting
  • seed oil production
  • edible flowers