Whether you garden in the ground, in raised beds, on the patio, or anywhere else, borage is a great addition or re-addition to your plant family. Read on for simple, straightforward specifics about growing borage.
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Family | Container Size | Good Companions | Bad Companions | Soil Conditions | Germination | Sun | Water | Temperature Range | Height | Lifespan | Reproduction | Yield Per Plant | Ingestibility | Further Reading
What Family Does Borage Belong To?
Borage (Borago officinalis) belongs to the Boraginaceae family, also known as the borage family or the forget-me-not family.
Some of its relatives include comfrey, lungwort, and forget-me-not.
What Size Container Should I Use for Growing Borage?
The minimum container depth recommended for borage is 12 inches.
The minimum container width recommended for borage is also 12 inches. So it is best to use a container that is at least 12 inches deep and 12 inches wide.
Learn more in our Choosing the Right Planter for Your Container Garden article here.
What Are Good Companion Plants for Borage?
Some of borage's best companions are as follows:
- Mizuna, cauliflower, and other Brassicas, as borage repels cabbage worm
- Tomato, as borage repels tomato worm
- Strawberry, as borage enhances the flavor of strawberries
- Beans like green beans
- Peas
- Cucumber
- Squash
- Melons
- Apple
- Cherry
- Pear
- Peach
- Plum
What Are Bad Companion Plants for Borage?
Borage is not compatible with every plant. Some things to avoid planting with borage are as follows:
What Soil Conditions Does Borage Need?
Borage prefers well-draining soil with a pH of 4.5 to 8.5.
How Long Does Borage Take to Germinate?
Borage takes 5-15 days to germinate at a temperature of 65-75°F.
How Much Sun Does Borage Need?
Borage can grow in full sun to part shade.
In other words, it grows fastest in full sun. It will still grow in dappled shade or part shade, just at a slower rate.
Borage grown in the shade will likely have fewer flowers. See our What Does "Full Sun to Part Shade" Mean? article here for more information.
Sun recommendations can vary by region, and borage grown in hot areas or in warmer conditions than the ideal temperature range noted below may need more shade.
How Much Water Does Borage Need?
Borage should be watered deeply when the top 2 inches of soil are dry.
What Is the Ideal Temperature Range for Growing Borage?
Borage grows fastest in temperatures of 60-85°F.
This is its ideal temperature range. Although it will grow in temperatures both cooler and warmer than this range, the growth could be slower or even stunted.
Minimum and maximum temperatures will vary by variety. Some borage varieties are bred for longer harvests and others for warmer climates.
How Tall Does Borage Get?
The average height of borage is 2-3 feet.
Is Borage Annual, Biennial, or Perennial?
Borage is an annual herb, meaning that it starts and ends its life in the same year.
How Does Borage Reproduce?
Borage reproduces by seed.
How Much Borage is Produced Per Plant?
For borage, how much is produced per plant (also called the yield) largely depends on the type and variety.
Most borage plants produce 25-50 flowers per plant per year.
Similarly to mints, borage plants can group together to give the appearance of a shrub, but they are not shrubs. Each plant has 1 main stem with several smaller groups of flowers per plant. Each seed produces 1 plant.
Can Borage Be Ingested?
Borage flowers and leaves are edible.
Borage flowers and seeds have anti-inflammatory and demulcent properties. They can be used in herbal preparations. The most common preparations are tea and tinctures. An herb:solvent weight ratio of 1:5 at 50% alcohol is suggested for a borage flower tincture.
There are no known safety concerns associated with ingesting borage flowers, leaves, or seeds for the general public. However, individuals with liver conditions may choose to limit their consumption of borage due to its pyrrolizidine alkaloid content. Learn more about using herbs mindfully here.
See this article for more information about ingestibility in general. See the simple uses article linked below for examples of ways to prepare this specific plant.
Further Reading
This article is intended as a quick-reference guide for gardeners. Consult your seed packet or seed catalog for variety-specific information.
When you have a bumper crop of borage rolling in, you may not have enough time for long, complicated recipes or many-step preservation procedures. Check out my article on quick, simple uses for borage here!
Borage is featured in these Plant to Plate articles: