Borage is a rugged, cottage-garden herb with sky-blue, star-shaped edible flowers that bees adore — plant it once and it'll happily self-seed around your patch for years, drawing in pollinators and beneficial insects.
Quick facts
- Position: full sun to part shade
- Spacing: 40–50 cm apart
- Tub depth: our 23 cm+ depth
- Time to harvest: 8–10 weeks to flower
When to plant: Borage is easy from seed — sow directly in spring and autumn. It self-seeds prolifically, so you'll rarely need to sow it twice. Our free planting calendar shows the right months for your postcode.
Growing it in a raised bed: Sow seed straight into any reasonable mix. It grows into a big, bristly plant, so give it room and a spot where its self-seeding is welcome.
How to use it: The blue flowers are edible with a light cucumber flavour — beautiful frozen into ice cubes or scattered on salads. Above all, it's one of the best bee and hoverfly plants you can grow.
Common pests: keep an eye out for aphids, though flowers are seldom much bothered. See our safe pest guide.
Common problems: the main one to watch is powdery mildew, usually in damp, crowded conditions. Good airflow prevents most.
Where to plant it: One of the finest plants for drawing in bees and hoverflies; a classic companion to strawberries and tomatoes. See our companion planting guide.
More growing guides: calendula, nasturtiums and bee balm.
Plan your patch: our free planting calendar shows what to plant now where you live. Ready to grow? Browse our raised garden beds or build your own with the garden bed builder.
Image: Kolforn (Kolforn), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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