Borage Borago officinalis
Borage (Borago officinalis) is an annual herb in the Boraginaceae family. It grows 50–90 cm (20–35 in) tall and 40–60 cm (16–24 in) wide, wants full sun and low water, and is hardy to about -3 °C (27 °F). Space plants about 40 cm (16 in) apart.
Plan Borage in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Borage at a glance
| Type | Annual herb |
|---|---|
| Family | Boraginaceae |
| Mature height | 50–90 cm (20–35 in) |
| Mature spread | 40–60 cm (16–24 in) |
| Spacing | 40 cm (16 in) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Low; drought tolerance moderate, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Cold hardiness | About -3 °C (27 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 9) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 32 °C (90 °F) |
| Flowering | about 7–10 weeks after planting, for 9–14 weeks |
| Days to maturity | About 70 days from planting |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | High |
| Edible | Yes: flowers, young leaves |
| Common in gardens of | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇫🇷 France, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇺🇸 United States |
Is Borage toxic?
- People: mildly toxic
- Cats: not well documented
- Dogs: not well documented
- Parts: leaves, seeds
Contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids; flowers are fine in small amounts but avoid regular leaf consumption.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Borage
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and low water.
Questions about Borage
- How far apart should I plant Borage?
- About 40 cm (16 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 40–60 cm (16–24 in).
- Does Borage need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Borage need?
- Low water. Drought tolerance is moderate and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Borage?
- It tolerates about -3 °C (27 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 9. As an annual it is usually planted out after the last frost.
- When does Borage flower?
- About 7–10 weeks after planting, for 9–14 weeks.
- Is Borage poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not well documented; for dogs not well documented; for people mildly toxic. Contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids; flowers are fine in small amounts but avoid regular leaf consumption.
- What grows well with Borage?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Borage. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (low).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade C (C: plausible, mixed evidence).
- ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, ASPCA
- FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56 — Crop Evapotranspiration, FAO
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
- University extension gardening guides (general), Various land-grant university extensions
Notes and assumptions
- Typical garden-cultivar values; varieties differ.
- Self-seeds freely; hairy leaves can irritate skin.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Comfrey Symphytum officinale
- Woodland forget-me-not Myosotis sylvatica
- Lungwort (pulmonaria) Pulmonaria officinalis
- Heliotrope Heliotropium arborescens
- Tree echium (giant viper's bugloss) Echium pininana
- Virginia bluebells Mertensia virginica
- Pride of Madeira Echium candicans
- Chatham Island forget-me-not Myosotidium hortensia