Borage Herb Seeds

Borage is a wonderful plant to have around the garden. Borage (Borago officinalis), also known as starflower, bee bush, bee bread, and bugloss, is a medicinal herb with edible leaves and flowers. In my garden, borage and sunflowers share the honor of being bee hot-spots.

Borage is a freely seeding, easy growing annual plant with vivid blue flowers and leaves with the flavor of cucumbers. It is consider an herb, but is often grown as a flower in vegetable gardens where it attracts pollinating bees and is considered a good companion plant for tomatoes, squash and strawberries.

Common name: Borage, starflower, bee bush, bee bread, and bugloss
Color: Small brilliant blue bloom with attracting qualities.
Height: 3 feet (91 cm) tall and 2 feet (61 cm) wide,
Difficulty level: Easy

Planting & Care
Grown from seed, borage can be started indoors 3-4 weeks before the last frost or direct seeded just after the danger of frost has passed. Plant the small, black seeds just beneath the surface of the soil and thin seedlings to at least one foot apart. Trim back occasionally to keep plants tidy and upright.

Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade

Soil: Any average, well drained soil.

Care:

• Borage grows best if direct seeded.
• Barely cover the seeds with soil and keep well watered.
• They are tolerant of any type soil, even poor dry soil.
• However a sunny location with rich, well draining soil is optimal.
• If you choose to start seedlings, transplant before they become pot bound.
• Plan to start seedlings about 3-4 weeks before the last expected frost and don’t transplant outdoors until the soil has warmed.
• Soil: Any average, well drained soil.
• Position: A sunny spot where bumblebees and other large pollinators are desired.
• Frost tolerant: Seedlings will survive light frosts, but older plants are easily damaged.
• Sow and Plant: Plant the large seeds in your garden in late spring.
• A fresh crop of plants can be planted in late summer for bloom in the fall.

Harvesting: Harvesting: Cut back borage plants by half their size in midsummer to encourage reblooming. Blossom clusters make beautiful but short-lived cut flowers or edible garnishes.

Special Feature:
Borage seedlings are only edible when very young. Large plants produce edible, starry blue flowers that attract bees in droves. The foliage can be gathered and composted.
Use
Ornamental use:

• Freeze borage blossoms in ice cubes for a festive and fun way to cool down summer drinks.