Borage is a beautiful flowering plant that likes the cooler months of Southwest winter – at least in the Low, Middle, and High Desert. On those Cool Plateau and Mountain elevations, sorry it’s too cold – but! But – this is a good cool season flower you can plant in the ground on your “Last Frost” day, and it should shine for you through the summer – while it will die in the summer heat of the Low Desert.

About Borage

Borage (Borago officinalis), also called starflower, and borraja in Spanish, is a plant best grown as a winter annual in most of the Southwest.  It is the namesake for the Borage Family, the Boraginaceae.

Why Grow Borage?

It’s a pretty flowering plant that tolerates mildly alkaline soils. It’s also a great plant if you are a beekeeper. Very nectar rich.

Borage is used by humans mostly as a fresh vegetable, edible flower, or a dried herb. As a fresh vegetable, borage, with a cucumber like taste, is often used in salads or as a garnish.    Flowers have a sweet, honey-like taste.    Since they are one of the few truly blue-colored edible things, flowers are often used to decorate desserts.   

Edible Flowers

Borage flowers are produced fresh each day on a curling structure termed a “scorpoid cyme.”    Ideally pluck individual flowers, leaving the structure behind to make more.    These flowers can be tossed in salads, on top of soups, or candied and enjoyed as a dessert.  More on Edible Flowers.  And some general Edible Flower Flavors on Savor the Southwest.

Borage thrives in winter gardens in the Southwest, but unless pampered or grown in higher elevations, withers in our summer heat.  The thing is, borage prefers full sun and blends nicely into flower, herb, or even wildflower gardens.    Borage will do well in improved garden soils, and as with most plants, the better the soil, the healthier the plant.    It is easily grown from seed, and will self-seed fairly readily once established.    Keep weed competition to a minimum by using mulch, and keep the soil evenly moist for best foliage and flower production.

How to Grow Borage

I find it easiest to grow borage in pots – or raised bed vegetable gardens.  It is basically grown like most cool season greens.

Earth.
When it comes to soil, borage is like most leafy greens. It needs a rich, well-drained soil, with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5.    This is not our native Southwest soil. This is why I suggested growing in pots. Easy to use potting soil from the store.

If planting in the ground, then add ample compost or aged manure and work it into the soil before planting.   

Fire.
Light is necessary. These plants will need full winter sun for at least six hours a day.  By the time late spring is upon us, four hours is okay.

Air.
Temperatures above freezing are requires, so Taos, Tahoe, and Showlow, you folks will need greenhouses.

Water.
Keep the soil evenly moist for best flavor of the greens. “Evenly moist” means don’t ever let it get too dry, but never leave it soaking wet. Moist, yes. Wet, no.

Companion Planting

Borage is used in companion planting.    It is said to protect or nurse legumes, spinach, brassicas, and even strawberries.    It has been scientifically proven to be a good companion plant to tomatoes because it confuses the mother moths of tomato hornworms looking for a place to lay their eggs.    Claims that it improves tomato growth and makes them taste better remain unsubstantiated. This is tomato companioning only useful knowledge in gardens that don’t freeze or are not too hot in summer..

Eating Borage

In My book on Father’ Kino’s Herbs, I say this: “Vegetable use of borage leaves is common in Germany, in the Spanish regions of Aragón and Navarra, in the Greek island of Crete and in the Italian northern region Liguria.    Although often used in soups, one of the better known German borage recipes is the Green Sauce (Grüne Soße) made in Frankfurt.    In the Italian Liguria area, borage is commonly used as filling of the traditional pasta ravioli and pansoti.    It is used to flavor pickled gherkins in Poland.    Select young tender leaves for any of these uses. ” More about how to Forage Borage on Savor the Southwest. 

Some Cautions

See those hairs in the close up photo? This is why people will always cook borage leaves before eating. They easily break off into your hands (or mouth) and become irritating.  Cooking breaks them down and releases the tart acetic acid (same thing as in vinegar).

Sad to say there is also a weed in the borage family that many of us desert gardeners are not fond of. Its called the fiddleneck, or Amsinckia. The common name is derived from the flower stems, which curl over at the top in a manner reminiscent of the head of a fiddle. But its a very pesky weed because it is a desert plant and it has about a bazillion of irritating these hairs whereas borage only has a few. It’s why I always tell people to weed early and often.

You can eat too much borage. And the cautions about borage are also on Savor the Southwest.

Grow Borage Because It’s Pretty

Blue flowers. Low water. Rabbits and deer won’t eat it (not sure about javelina). Why not simply grow borage because it is a pretty flower – and a pretty much trouble free plant for your garden.

Thanks for Reading

– Jacqueline

Need Southwest Vegetable Garden Help?

May I recommend my book?  The Southwest Fruit & Vegetable Guide offers not just growing guides but some of the latest varieties – including ones specifically for raised bed and container growing. Price is what you would pay on Amazon – only when you buy from me you get a signed copy!

From the review:

“In this updated 2nd edition of Southwest Fruit & Vegetable Gardening, you’ll find much-needed advice and practical tips on growing an edible garden, no matter which part of the southwestern US you call home.

Profits from the sale of this book go to the Arizona-based Horticulture Therapy non-profit Tierra del Sol Institute.

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Disclaimer

The author of this website has researched the edibility of the materials I discuss, however, humans vary in their ability to tolerate different foods, drinks, and herbs. Individuals consuming flowers, plants, animals, or derivatives mentioned in this blog do so entirely at their own risk. The author of this site cannot be held responsible for any adverse reaction. In case of doubt please consult your medical practitioner.