Latin name: Borago officinalis
🌱 Days to Sprout: 5-10
😋 Plant food: after true leaves
✂️ Thin to: 1 plant per yCube
🍅 Days to Maturity: 50-60
💡 Light Zone: Moderate
📏 Plant Size: 2 ft
💚 Care Level: Beginner
Origin
Also known as starflower or bee bush, Borage is native to the eastern Mediterranean region. Naturalized throughout Europe and North America, Borage is well known in homeopathy and cultivated to attract pollinators and repel unwanted pests.
Qualities
Borage flowers grow in clusters and open to reveal beautiful indigo blossoms with dark, pointed anthers. In addition to tasting delicious, Borage is low in cholesterol and rich in gamma linoleic acid, which has been shown to reduce inflammation. Borage also boasts high levels of vitamins A and C, magnesium, and potassium.
Use
The flowers, stems, and leaves are all edible! Every part of Borage tastes like mild cucumber, but the flower heads have an additional sweet note with subtle undertones of honeydew. Enjoy the edible blossoms raw as a garnish, or freeze to make stunning ice cubes for beverages. You can also boil the leaves or add the stems to soups and stews.
Care & Harvest
🫶 Support: If you notice your Borage looking a little top-heavy, we suggest using our Plant Belt to support its height.
✂️ Pruning: Check the roots monthly and trim any that are brown or extending past the yPod. Prune older foliage as it turns yellow or brown by snipping where the leaf meets the main stem.
🌻 Harvest: Flowers develop 6-8 weeks after sprouting. Harvest once they open by gently snipping or pinching at the flowers' base. To harvest Borage leaves, simply snip where the leaf meets the main stem.
Our Plant Health & Nutrition Team thoroughly tests each variety we offer to bring you the most flavorful and high-quality plants. We regularly rotate our plant portfolio, so please note, availability varies.