Herbaceous layer · Annual herb
Borage
Borago officinalis
A self-seeding annual herb with bee-magnet flowers and edible blooms. Excellent insectary plant for temperate food forest edges.
Also known as: Borage
Layer
Herbaceous layer
Climate
Subtropical, Warm temperate, Temperate, Cool temperate
Sun
Full sun to light shade.
Water
Moderate; prefers moist fertile soil.
Soil
Average to fertile, free-draining.
Size
0.6–1 m H · 0.4–0.6 m W
Growth
Fast
Frost
Frost tender as a plant; regenerates from seed after cold.
Edible uses
Flowers, Young leaves (sparingly, culinary)
Harvest window
Spring through autumn while flowering
Ecological functions
Insectary · Bee forage · Self-seeding cover
Wildlife value
Excellent bee forage
Human uses
Edible flowers · Companion insectary
Propagation
Seed; self-sows readily.
Maintenance
Thin excess seedlings; allow some seed for next year.
NZ growing notes
Easy nationwide in the growing season. Useful under fruit trees where light reaches the ground.
In the food forest
Borage is a herbaceous insectary that feeds bees around fruit trees and strawberries. Let it self-seed lightly without smothering seedlings.
Establishment
Sow in spring into open soil. Water to establish. Thin clumps. Leave a few plants to set seed for next season.
NZ honesty
Honest nationwide as a seasonal annual. Winter kills plants in cold districts — that is normal, not failure.
Suitable NZ regions
Companion plants
Related guilds
References
- NZ home garden insectary practice — Reliable self-seeding bee plant.