Borage (Borago officinalis)

Borage (Borago officinalis) | $6.99 | 4-inch pot

🌿 Quick Facts: • Native Status: Annual herb (native to the Mediterranean) • USDA Growing Zones: Annual in all zones • Height: 18-36 inches • Spread: 12-18 inches

🌺 Bloom Details: • Season: Summer • Colors: Brilliant sky-blue (occasionally pink) • Flower Type: Nodding star-shaped flowers with prominent black anthers • Bloom Period: June-September

☀️ Growing Requirements: • Sun: Full sun to part shade • Water: Moderate • Soil: Average, well-draining • Spacing: 12-18 inches apart

🦋 Pollinator Benefits: • Birds: Seeds taken by small birds • Native Bees: VERY high — one of the best bee plants you can grow; refills nectar within minutes • Butterflies: Good nectar source • Beneficial Insects: Draws hoverflies & predatory wasps

🌱 Plant Care: • Spring: Direct sow after frost; resents transplanting once established • Summer: Pick young leaves and flowers; stake if it gets top-heavy • Fall: Let it self-sow for next year • Winter: Not hardy; returns reliably from seed

🤝 Companion Planting: • Perfect paired with:

• Tomatoes
• Squash
• Strawberries
• Calendula

✨ Unique Characteristics: • Among the very best bee plants available • Edible cucumber-flavored flowers for drinks & salads • Refills nectar in minutes — bees work it all day • Prolific self-sower • Note: limit internal use; contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids