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Borage (Borago officinalis) is an attractive and easy to grow herb that is a useful addition to any kitchen. Blue, star-shaped flowers and hairy leaves have a mild cucumber flavor and serve as a tasty garnish for salads or a beautiful natural baking decoration. Excellent companion plant to strawberries, squash, and tomatoes.
Start borage seeds indoors for earlier blooms. Be cautious when transplanting as taproots prefer minimal disturbance.
Sow outdoors in average to poor soil after danger of frost has passed. Borage develops a deep taproot and transplanting is not recommended. Borage self-sows; snip bloom heads off of any plants you do not want to reseed.
Borage Seeds Growing Details | |
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Botanical Name | Borago Officinalis |
Plant Spacing | 12” |
Planting Depth | 1/4” |
Spread | 10-16” |
Height | 2-3’ |
Germination Temp | 55-70 °F |
Light Required | Partial Shade |
Life Cycle | Annual |
Days to Germination | 7-14 Days |
Days to Maturity | 60-80 Days |
Planting Zone | 3-10 |
Flower Form | Star Shaped |
Yield | High |
Growth Rate | Fast |
Growing Season | Spring - Fall |
Blooming Season | Summer - Fall |
Yes, borage will self-seed, making it a great and lasting plant for your garden. Once this annual’s flowers are spent they will drop and seeds to grow back the following year. To prevent them from seeding, deadhead the blooms before they develop the seed.
Borage flowers change colors as they mature.
As they bloom and start to open, borage flowers can start off as pink or magenta, then mature into a bold blue to purple color. Some flowers may occasionally keep their pink color all season long.
Borage should not be ingested by animals including dogs, cats, or horses.
It is noted to be toxic and have varying symptoms based on the size of the animal or amount consumed. Large amounts of borage can potentially be dangerous, and is best kept away from these pets.
To collect borage seeds, let the flower petals dry out and turn brown. Open up the flower head where the seeds are stored. As the seeds dry they will go from a green color to a dried black when they are ready to harvest. Remove the seeds and allow them to finish drying, then store in a cool, dark location to plant again another season.