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Flowers

Borage growing guide

Hardy annual with intensely blue star-shaped flowers. One of the best companion plants — repels tomato hornworm and attracts pollinators. Flowers are edible.

Photo reference

Use this real-world photo as the main plant reference, then compare it with the botanical drawings below for leaf, flower and harvest details.

Borage real-world photo reference (Borago officinalis)
Wikimedia Commons · Hans Hillewaert · CC BY-SA 3.0
7-14 daysGermination
55-70 daysHarvest
30 cmSpacing
1 cmSow depth
Full/PartSun
HardyFrost
1.5 cm/weekWater
6-7pH

Planting calendar by climate

Use these windows as a public guide. Plotera can personalise tasks around your saved garden, location and planting dates.

ClimateSowTransplant / PlantHarvest
TropicalApr - AugApr - AugJan - Dec
SubtropicalAug - NovAug - NovOct - Feb
MediterraneanSep - NovSep - NovNov - Feb
TemperateSep - NovSep - NovNov - Feb
CoolSep - NovSep - NovNov - Feb
AridSep - NovSep - NovNov - Feb

Botanical reference

Compare the whole plant first, then check the leaf, flower and harvest detail to identify what Borage should look like as it grows.

Borage whole plant

Whole plant

Overall shape, height, branching and growth habit.

Borage leaf detail

Leaf detail

Leaf shape, edges, colour and vein pattern.

Borage flower detail

Flower detail

Flower colour, structure and where blooms appear.

Borage harvest / detail

Harvest / detail

Fruit, root, seed, pod or the strongest identifying feature.

Cooking and eating ideas

A quick garden-to-table guide for using Borage after harvest.

Raw / fresh

Use edible flowers sparingly as colourful garnishes, salad accents, teas, or infused syrups when the plant is known edible.

Cooked

Use edible blooms in teas, fritters, syrups, baking, or as a garnish after cooking.

Store / preserve

Dry edible petals for tea or decoration where appropriate.

Try: Salad garnish, Tea, Syrup, Edible decoration.

Good companions

Tomato, Strawberry, Squash, Cabbage

Avoid near

No avoid list yet.

Growing note

Self-seeds prolifically — deadhead or it will take over. Flowers can be frozen in ice cubes.

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