Borage Borago officinalis

Common Name:
Borage

Description:
Borage is a fast-growing annual herb known for its striking star-shaped blue flowers and lush, textured green foliage. The leaves are slightly hairy and have a mild cucumber-like flavour, making them a popular addition to salads, drinks, and garnishes, while the vivid blue flowers are also edible and often used to decorate desserts or freeze into ice cubes. Flowering from spring through to autumn, Borage is highly attractive to bees and other pollinators, making it an excellent companion plant in productive gardens. Well-suited to Melbourne’s climate, it thrives in full sun to part shade and prefers well-drained soil, tolerating a range of conditions once established. Borage readily self-seeds, ensuring ongoing presence in the garden, and is valued for its ability to improve soil health and support nearby plants.

Form:
Shrub - Clumping / Grass-like / Mounding

Mature Size:
Height: 60–100 cm
Width: 50–80 cm

Aspect:
Full Sun
Part Shade

Flowering:
Flowers in Spring
Flowers in Summer
Flowers in Autumn

Flower Colour:
Blue

Key Attributes:
Bee Attracting
Culinary Herb
Edible Flowers
Fast Growing
Annual
Self-seeding
Soil Improving

Toxicity:
Contains small amounts of pyrrolizidine alkaloids; not recommended for excessive consumption by humans or animals.

Companion Plants:
Strawberry
Tomato
Squash
Cucumber
Beans