• Photo of Borago officinalis (Borago officinaliss)

Plant Profile: Borago officinalis

Taxonomy: Borago officinalis

Names

Borage, Cool Tankard, Cover Crop, Starflower, Tailwort, Talewort

  • Photo of Borago officinalis (Borago officinaliss)

Phonetic Spelling:bor-AY-go oh-fish-ih-NAH-liss

Genus:Borago

Species:officinalis

Family:Boraginaceae

Starflower is a yearly flowering plant known for its vibrant blue blossoms. Its leaves, which are a dull gray-green and have a wrinkled texture covered in bristly hairs, are edible. This plant thrives in full sunlight but can also tolerate partial shade without any negative effects. It adapts well to various soil types, including those that are low in nutrients.

To propagate starflower, you can start it from seeds; it is also capable of self-seeding, ensuring it returns to your garden each year.

However, it's important to note that the plant contains small quantities of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which can lead to liver damage and cancer if consumed in large amounts over time.

Borago officinalis Feature Summary

Borago officinalis Image Gallery

Tags

#full sun tolerant
#annual
#blue
#drought tolerant
#blue flowers
#deer resistant
#pollinator plant
#poor soils tolerant
#problem for cats
#problem for dogs
#bee friendly
#problem for horses

Similar Plants

Borago officinalis Feature Summary

Attributes
The flowers are used for creating a blue dye. Once added to an acid, it will turn pink.
Attracts bees and other wildlife.
In general, the flowers (used as edible flowers) and leaves (used in salads, teas, and sandwiches) are edible. More specifically, the wrinkled, dull gray-green leaves that are covered with bristly hairs are edible. They can be eaten raw or cooked in the same manner as spinach, but have the taste and scent of a salty cucumber. Used as an herb or added to a salad. It is best to chop the leaves up finely as the hairy leaves do not leave a pleasant feeling in the mouth. Once dried, the leaves lose their flavor. The stems are also flavorful and can be used once dried for flavoring beverages.
Wildlife Food Source
Attracts Pollinators
Leaves
Edible, wrinkled, ovate, dull gray-green leaves grow up to 6" long. They taste like cucumber. The leaves are covered with bristly hairs.
Green
Gray/Silver
Ovate
Obovate
3-6 inches
Stem
The branched stems are covered with bristly hairs.
Brown/Copper
Green
Red/Burgundy
Hairy (pubescent)
Poisonous to Humans
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Occasionally Dry
Less than 12 inches
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
2a
2b
3a
3b
9a
9b
10a
10b
11a
11b
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape
Edible Garden
Pollinator Garden
Border
Mass Planting
Small groups
Container
Patio
Walkways
Small Space
Slope/Bank
Coastal
Pollinators
Bees
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Problem for Children

Borago officinalis Attributes

Borago officinalis: Uses (Ethnobotany)

The flowers are used for creating a blue dye. Once added to an acid, it will turn pink.

Borago officinalis: Country Or Region Of Origin

Mediterranean

Borago officinalis: Wildlife Value

Attracts bees and other wildlife.

Borago officinalis: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)

poor soil

Borago officinalis: Edibility

In general, the flowers (used as edible flowers) and leaves (used in salads, teas, and sandwiches) are edible. More specifically, the wrinkled, dull gray-green leaves that are covered with bristly hairs are edible. They can be eaten raw or cooked in the same manner as spinach, but have the taste and scent of a salty cucumber. Used as an herb or added to a salad. It is best to chop the leaves up finely as the hairy leaves do not leave a pleasant feeling in the mouth. Once dried, the leaves lose their flavor. The stems are also flavorful and can be used once dried for flavoring beverages.

Borago officinalis: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Borago officinalis: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Borago officinalis: Play Value

Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer

Borago officinalis Leaves

Borago officinalis: Leaf Description

Edible, wrinkled, ovate, dull gray-green leaves grow up to 6" long. They taste like cucumber. The leaves are covered with bristly hairs.

Borago officinalis: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Borago officinalis: Leaf Color

spa
Gray/Silver
spa
Green

Borago officinalis: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Borago officinalis: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Borago officinalis: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Borago officinalis: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Borago officinalis: Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Borago officinalis Stem

Borago officinalis: Stem Description

The branched stems are covered with bristly hairs.

Borago officinalis: Stem Color

grass
Brown/Copper
grass
Green
grass
Red/Burgundy

Borago officinalis: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Borago officinalis: Stem Surface

Corky Ridges
Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
Dull
Hairy (pubescent)
Polished
Smooth (glabrous)

Borago officinalis Poisonous to Humans

Borago officinalis: Poison Symptoms

Vomiting, diarrhea, dermatitis

Borago officinalis: Poison Toxic Principle

Tannins, mucilage

Borago officinalis: Poison Severity

High
Low
Medium

Borago officinalis: Causes Contact Dermatitis

No
Yes

Borago officinalis: Poison Part

Bark
Flowers
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Sap/Juice
Seeds
Stems

Borago officinalis Whole Plant Traits

Borago officinalis: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Borago officinalis: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Borago officinalis: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Borago officinalis: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Borago officinalis: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Borago officinalis Cultural Conditions

Borago officinalis: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Borago officinalis: Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Borago officinalis: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Borago officinalis: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Borago officinalis: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Borago officinalis: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
10a
thermostat
10b
thermostat
11a
thermostat
11b
thermostat
2a
thermostat
2b
thermostat
3a
thermostat
3b
thermostat
4a
thermostat
4b
thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b
thermostat
9a
thermostat
9b

Borago officinalis: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Borago officinalis Flowers

Borago officinalis: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Blue

Borago officinalis: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Borago officinalis: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Borago officinalis: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Borago officinalis: Flower Petals

2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals

Borago officinalis: Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Borago officinalis: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Borago officinalis Landscape

Borago officinalis: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Borago officinalis: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Borago officinalis: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Borago officinalis: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Borago officinalis: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees

Borago officinalis: Problems

Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy