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borage | Borago officinalis
borage | Borago officinalis
borage | Borago officinalis
borage | Borago officinalis
borage | Borago officinalis
borage | Borago officinalis
borage | Borago officinalis
borage | Borago officinalis

borage | Borago officinalis

borage or Borago officinalis

0.5 star 1 star 1 star 1 star 1 star 4.5 5
(4)

A wonderfully useful as well as decorative plant. The young leaves and vivid blue flowers of this annual herb have a...

approx 75 organic seeds
£2.19
In stock (shipped within 2-3 working days)
9cm pot
£6.99
available to order from spring
2 + 1 FREE 9cm pots
£13.98 £20.97
available to order from spring
1

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Plant description

A wonderfully useful as well as decorative plant. The young leaves and vivid blue flowers of this annual herb have a fresh cucumber-like flavour, so are often used in salads, soups, chilled drinks or simply as a garnish. The flowers attract bees and other beneficial insects, while the foliage has been known to reduce attacks of hornworm when planted between tomato plants. At the end of the year, add the plants to the compost heap as they will promote many beneficial minerals. Borage is an annual plant, but it will self-seed readily in good conditions. Dead-heading the flowers as soon as they fade reduces self-seeding.

Eventual height & spread

Eventual height and spread

Flowering period

  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • Jun
  • Jul
  • Aug
  • Sep
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec

Plant features

Position

Full sun / light shade

Rate of growth

Average

Soil

Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil

Hardiness

Fully hardy

How to care for Borago officinalis:

Avoid root disturbance by planting it in a spot that they can settle into and keep well watered during drier periods. To prevent self-seeding, deadhead the spent flowers before the seed has a chance to ripen.

Sowing instructions:

Form shallow drills at 30cm intervals in a well prepared bed, and sow thinly, just covering the seed before watering well. The seeds have a higher germination rate when temperatures are between 15-25°C, so early sowings can be covered with a cloche. When big enough to handle, thin the seedlings to 25cm.

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