Borage
Borago officinalis
Borage is an herb that is often included in tree guilds as an annual replacement for comfrey, bees enjoy the blooms which produce a lot of nectar, and the plant has a long history of health-promoting properties.
Height: 2′ to 3′
Zones:
Days to Harvest: blooms
Container: no
Deer Resistant: usually
Edible: Leaves & flowers
Height: 2′ to 3′
Plant Color: fuzzy green
Bloom Color: blue
Life Cycle: annual, although may reseed itself
Spacing: 18″ to 24″
Juglone Tolerant: no
Flowers: June to September
Sunlight: full
Soil: well-draining
Water: medium
Design Styles: cottage garden, potager, herb
Guild Use: insectary, dynamic accumulator
History
Native to the Mediterranean, Borage has naturalized in many other locations. Additionally, it’s found around Europe, and is used uniquely in dishes unique to each country. Borage is mentioned in literature as far back as found in Homer, referred to as nepenthe.
Companion Plants
1. beans
2. spinach
3. brassicas
4. strawberries
5. tomatoes (It confuses the tomato hornworm moths looking to lay their eggs.)
Design
Borage is a natural in both the potager as a companion plant, the herb garden as a medicinal, as well as a cottage garden. The blue of the blooms pair well with orange flowers. A fruit tree guild planting of calendula and borage is both beneficial as well as a beautiful color combination.
Medicinal
Benefits
Borage has been shown to be rich in gamma linoleic acid (GLA), an omega-6 fatty acid shown to decrease inflammation. In traditional medicine, borage has been used to dilate blood vessels, act as a sedative, and treat seizures. Today, borage is available as a supplement to treat respiratory and digestive disorders. The leaves are sometimes chopped or ground and used to make an herbal tea. There can be side-affects, and some people may need to completely avoid borage.
Borage Tea Recipe
Pick and rinse ¼ cup fresh borage leaves or flowers
Add one cup of boiling water
Let the steep for 10-15 minutes
Sweeten with honey
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