Borago officinalis (Borage)
Borage, Cool Tankard, Talewort, Tailwort
One of the easiest and most enjoyable annuals for a sunny border! Native to the Mediterranean region, Borago officinalis (Borage) is a spreading annual that will reward you with abundant, open racemes of beautiful, slightly nodding, star-shaped, bright blue flowers from early summer to early fall. They rise atop stems clad with wrinkled, gray-green, fuzzy leaves that you can harvest for use in salads and cold drinks! The beautiful flowers are also edible with a fresh cucumber flavor. Low care and fairly pest and disease-free, Borage provides prodigious amounts of pollen and nectar which attract pollinating bees.
- Generally growing 1-3 ft. tall (30-90 cm) and spreading 9-24 in. (22-60 cm), Borage thrives in average, dry to medium soils in full sun to light shade. Poor soils and drought tolerant!
- Freely self-seeding, this beautiful annual will remain in the garden year after year. However, excess plants are fairly easy to remove from the garden.
- A welcomed addition to beds, borders, wild gardens, herb gardens, cottage gardens.
- A magnet for hummingbirds, butterflies and beneficial insects, it is deer and rabbit resistant!
- Harvesting or deadheading will keep your Borage in bloom longer.
- Toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, toxic to horses.
Buy Borago officinalis (Borage)
Requirements
Hardiness | 2
– 11 |
---|---|
Heat Zones | 1
– 11 |
Climate Zones | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, A2, A3, H1 |
Plant Type | Annuals, Herbs |
Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
Season of Interest |
Summer (Early,Mid,Late) Fall |
Height | 1' – 3' (30cm – 90cm) |
Spread | 9" – 2' (22cm – 60cm) |
Spacing | 12" – 24" (30cm – 60cm) |
Water Needs | Average |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Showy |
Tolerance | Deer, Drought |
Attracts | Butterflies, Hummingbirds |
Garden Uses | Beds and Borders |
Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage |
Pictures are courtesy of Botanik Foto
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Requirements
Hardiness | 2
– 11 |
---|---|
Heat Zones | 1
– 11 |
Climate Zones | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, A2, A3, H1 |
Plant Type | Annuals, Herbs |
Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
Season of Interest |
Summer (Early,Mid,Late) Fall |
Height | 1' – 3' (30cm – 90cm) |
Spread | 9" – 2' (22cm – 60cm) |
Spacing | 12" – 24" (30cm – 60cm) |
Water Needs | Average |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Showy |
Tolerance | Deer, Drought |
Attracts | Butterflies, Hummingbirds |
Garden Uses | Beds and Borders |
Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage |