Description
The edible and ornamental plant known as borage (Borago officinalis) belongs to the Boraginaceae family and has loose, drooping clusters of star-shaped, vivid blue blooms. The hairy annual borage plant reaches a height of 60 cm (2 feet). It has huge, prickly, oblong leaves that taste and smell like chilly cucumbers. Five cone-shaped, brilliant yellow stamens make up the flowers, which hang on crimson stalks. Because of its attractiveness to bees, borage blossoms are occasionally planted as an ornamental herb for feeding honeybees.
Habitat
Although it originated in the eastern Mediterranean, borage is now grown throughout Europe, the United Kingdom, and North America.
Uses
Borage is used as a diuretic and sedative in traditional medicine, as well as a therapy for kidney problems and seizures. The leaves are frequently used to make tea or dried herbs.
Varieties
The green leaves of Borago officinalis ‘Variegata’ are mottled with white. It has less vivid blossoms than regular borage.
The beautiful white flowers of Borago officinalis ‘Alba,’ often known as white borage, bloom later in the season than the blue variants. Alba is a more vigorous plant than regular borage.
The pale blue flowers of the sprawling species known as creeping borage (Borago pygmaea) bloom from late spring to late autumn. This perennial plant has a short life span.
Plant Care
- Light
Borage may grow in either full sun or light shade. However, your best chance of getting many blossoms and stocky stems is to cultivate your borage plants in full sun.
- Soil
Even in arid, nutrient-poor soils, borage can grow. It does, however, like soil that is well-drained and rather damp. Although it prefers somewhat acidic soil, it can also withstand a very broad pH range of 4.5 to 8.5 in the soil. Your plants will benefit from an increase in nutrients if you amend your soil with organic materials, such as compost.
- Water
Water your borage at least once every several days as it grows from seed and establishes itself in your garden to keep the soil equally moist but not soggy. When the plant reaches maturity, you can stop watering it and let the soil dry up.
- Temperature and Humidity
Being able to tolerate extreme temperatures, borage is an especially resilient herb. It cannot tolerate a severe frost, even if it can tolerate both hot and cold conditions. It doesn’t require a specific humidity.
- Fertilizer
Any fertilizer labeled for use on edible plants should be used on a regular basis to borage plants growing in poor soil; follow the instructions given on the label. Increased phosphorus fertilizer will help plants produce flowers.
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