Borago officinalis: Starflower
BORAGE
Borago officinalis is also known as starflower and is an annual herb. Borage (Borago officinalis L.) originates from Syria, but naturalized throughout the Mediterranean region, as well as most of Europe, North Africa, and Iran. It grows to a height of 60-100 cm (2-3 feet), and is bristly or hairy all over the stems and leaves; the leaves are alternate, simple, and 5-15 cm (2-6 in) long. Borage’s flowers are small and normally blue, although they may be pink or white, with five narrow, triangular-pointed petals. It has an indeterminate growth habit allowing it to produce many seeds which may lead to prolific spreading. In milder climates, borage will bloom continuously for most of the year.
There is usually no need for keen gardeners to plant borage more than once, as the plant will seed in loose soil. The seeds fall in late summer, provided they have not been extracted from the fruit by greenfinches. The seedlings will survive almost any kind of winter and then flower from May onwards. The small blue flowers are about V2 in wide and attract bees and bumblebees. You may like to try them yourself - pick a few (they are quite easy to detach) and add them to a fresh green salad. Depending on the fertility of the soil, the plants will grow from 20 in to over 39 in tall. They have somewhat coarse, hairy foliage and even the buds and developing fruit are hairy and somewhat prickly. New flowers are formed continually and subsequently produce strong black seeds, often in a group of four. Flowering continues into September. If you sow in early spring, flowers will appear in September. If you sow again in May, the flowering season will be extended until October.
Borago officinalis ‘Alba’ has white flowers. It is sometimes on sale under the name of Borago officinalis f. alba.
Borago officinalis ‘Variegata’ has yellow to creamy white spots. This variegated form is rarely on sale, but may well develop spontaneously in a garden. The variegation, however, rarely turns out to be permanent. The flower of Borago officinalis, which contains the non-toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloid thesinine, has a sweet honey-like taste and is often used to decorate desserts and dishes. Borage is also rich in oleic and palmitic acid, conferring a hypocholesterolemic effect. This oil, which has recently been commercialised, may regulate metabolism and the hormonal system, and is considered by many naturopathic practitioners to be a good remedy for PMS and menopause symptoms such as the hot flash. Borage is also sometimes indicated to alleviate and heal colds, bronchitis, and respiratory infections in general for its anti-inflammatory and balsamic properties. The flowers can be prepared in infusion to take advantage of its medicinal properties.