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Borago officinalis
  • Borage

an annual member of the Borago genus in the family Boraginaceae.

248px
Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline,very alkaline
    Acid to Very alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 7
    Zone 7
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Borago officinalis has 0 edible uses listed
Borago officinalis has 0 material uses listed
Borago officinalis has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Toxic parts

The plant, but not the oil obtained from the seeds, contains small amounts of pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can cause liver damage and liver cancer[1]. These alkaloids are present in too small a quantity to be harmful unless you make borage a major part of your diet, though people with liver problems would be wise to avoid using the leaves or flowers of this plant[K].

Edible uses

Notes

Leaves - raw or cooked[2][3][4][5][6][7]. They can be used as a pot-herb or be added to salads[8]. They are also added whole as a flavouring to various drinks such as Pimms and wine-based drinks[1]. The leaves are rich in potassium and calcium, they have a salty cucumber flavour[9]. Very hairy, the whole leaves have an unpleasant feeling in the mouth and so they are best chopped up finely and added to other leaves when eaten in a salad[K]. The leaves should always be used fresh, because they lose their flavour and colour if dried[10].

Flowers - raw. They are used as a decorative garnish on salads and summer fruit drinks[2][3][4][5][7]. The flowers are very nice, both to look at and to taste with a sweet slightly cucumber-like flavour[K]. A refreshing tea is made from the leaves and/or the flowers[11][7]. The dried stems are used for flavouring beverages[7]. The seed yields 30% oil, 20% of which is gamma-linolenic acid[12]. Total yields are 0.35 - 0.65 tonnes per hectare[12]. Unfortunately, the seed ripens intermittently over a period of time and falls from the plant when it is ripe, this makes harvesting the seeds in quantity very difficult[K].

An edible blue dye can be obtained from the flowers. It is used to colour vinegar[7].

Unknown part

Colouring
Oil
Tea

Flowers

Unknown use

Leaves

Unknown use

Material uses

The growing plant is said to repel insects[5]. A blue dye is obtained from the flowers[4]. This turns pink on contact with acids[1].

Unknown part

Dye
Repellent

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

Borage is a fairly common domestic herbal remedy that has been used since ancient times[10]. It has a particularly good reputation for its beneficial affect on the mind, being used to dispel melancholy and induce euphoria[10]. It is a soothing saline, diuretic herb that soothes damaged or irritated tissues[1].

The leaves, and to a lesser extent the flowers, are demulcent, diaphoretic, depurative, mildly diuretic, emollient, expectorant, febrifuge, lenitive and mildly sedative[8][4][13][5][14][1]. An infusion is taken internally in the treatment of a range of ailments including fevers, chest problems and kidney problems[8], though it should not be prescribed to people with liver problems. Externally it is used as a poultice for inflammatory swellings[8][4]. The leaves are harvested in late spring and the summer as the plant comes into flower. They can be used fresh or dried but should not be stored for more than one year because they soon lose their medicinal properties[1].

The seeds are a rich source of gamma-linolenic acid, this oil helps to regulate the hormonal systems and lowers blood pressure[1]. It is used both internally and externally, helping to relieve skin complaints and pre-menstrual tension[1].

Unknown part

Demulcent
Depurative
Diaphoretic
Diuretic
Emollient
Expectorant
Febrifuge
Hypotensive
Lenitive
Poultice
Sedative
Skin
Women's complaints

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow April/May in situ. The plants quickly develop a stout tap-root and do not transplant successfully[1]. The seed can also be sown in situ in the autumn, this will produce larger plants and earlier flowering[8]. The plant usually self-sows prolifically.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Borago officinalis. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

A very easily grown plant, succeeding in ordinary garden soil[15], preferring a dry soil[16] and a sunny position[17]. It grows particularly well in loose, stony soils with some chalk and sand[10]. Plants are tolerant of poor dry soils, though much bigger specimens are produced when the plants are growing in better conditions[1]. Tolerates a pH in the range 4.8 to 8.3.

Borage is often grown as a culinary plant in the herb garden[15][4]. Although an annual, it usually maintains itself by self-sowing, sometimes in quite a prolific manner, as long as the soil is disturbed by hoeing etc[5][18]. Plants often develop mildew when growing in dry conditions or towards the end of the growing season[1]. Flowers are a deeper blue when grown in poorer soils[17]. The flowers are rich in a sweet nectar and are very attractive to bees[4][5][19][20][10].

The growing plant is a good companion for strawberries, tomatoes, courgettes and most other plants[5][14][1]. It is said to deter Japanese beetle and tomato hornworms[1].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Borago officinalis. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Borago officinalis.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Borago officinalis
Genus
Borago
Family
Boraginaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][1][9][10][11][12]
Medicinal uses
[10][1][8][4][13][5][14]
Material uses & Functions
[5][4][1]
Botanic
[9]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
7
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
  • Drought
Ecosystems
Native Climate Zones
None listed.
Adapted Climate Zones
None listed.
Native Geographical Range
None listed.
Native Environment
None listed.
Ecosystem Niche
None listed.
Root Zone Tendancy
None listed.
Life
Deciduous or Evergreen
?
Herbaceous or Woody
?
Life Cycle
annual
Growth Rate
?
Mature Size
0.6 x 0.3 meters
Fertility
?
Pollinators
Bees
Flower Colour
?
Flower Type
hermaphrodite

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References

  1. ? 1.001.011.021.031.041.051.061.071.081.091.101.111.121.131.141.15 Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (1995-00-00)
  2. ? 2.02.12.2 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
  3. ? 3.03.13.2 Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins ISBN 0-00-219060-5 (1974-00-00)
  4. ? 4.04.14.24.34.44.54.64.74.84.9 Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald ISBN 0-356-10541-5 (1984-00-00)
  5. ? 5.05.15.25.35.45.55.65.75.85.9 Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press ISBN 0-87857-262-7 (1979-00-00)
  6. ? 6.06.1 Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain. ()
  7. ? 7.07.17.27.37.47.5 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
  8. ? 8.08.18.28.38.48.58.6 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
  9. ? 9.09.19.2 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
  10. ? 10.010.110.210.310.410.510.6 Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. ISBN 0-330-30725-8 (1990-00-00)
  11. ? 11.011.1 Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books ISBN 0-553-23827-2 (1983-00-00)
  12. ? 12.012.112.2 Carruthers. S. P. (Editor) Alternative Enterprises for Agriculture in the UK. Centre for Agricultural Strategy, Univ. of Reading ISBN 0704909820 (1986-00-00)
  13. ? 13.013.1 Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-37216-2 (1981-00-00)
  14. ? 14.014.114.2 Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-304-34324-2 (1993-00-00)
  15. ? 15.015.1 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
  16. ? Thompson. B. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son. (1878-00-00)
  17. ? 17.017.1 Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 3. Thompson and Morgan. (1989-00-00)
  18. ? Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-86318-386-7 (1990-00-00)
  19. ? Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. ISBN 0-88266-064-0 (1978-00-00)
  20. ? International Bee Research Association. Garden Plants Valuable to Bees. International Bee Research Association. (1981-00-00)

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Retrieved from "https://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Borago_officinalis&oldid=75644"
Facts about "Borago officinalis"RDF feed
Article is incompleteYes +
Article requires citationsNo +
Article requires cleanupYes +
Belongs to familyBoraginaceae +
Belongs to genusBorago +
Has common nameBorage +
Has drought toleranceTolerant +
Has edible partUnknown part +, Flowers + and Leaves +
Has edible useColouring +, Unknown use +, Oil + and Tea +
Has environmental toleranceDrought +
Has fertility typeBee +
Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
Has hardiness zone7 +
Has imageOgórecznik.JPG +
Has lifecycle typeAnnual +
Has material partUnknown part +
Has material useDye + and Repellent +
Has mature height0.6 +
Has mature width0.3 +
Has medicinal partUnknown part +
Has medicinal useDemulcent +, Depurative +, Diaphoretic +, Diuretic +, Emollient +, Expectorant +, Febrifuge +, Hypotensive +, Lenitive +, Poultice +, Sedative +, Skin + and Women's complaints +
Has primary imageOgórecznik.JPG +
Has search nameborago officinalis + and x +
Has shade toleranceLight shade +
Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral +, Alkaline + and Very alkaline +
Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
Has sun preferenceFull sun +
Has taxonomy nameBorago officinalis +
Has water requirementsmoderate +
Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +