This culinary and medicinal herb produces a galaxy of sparkling star-shaped blooms that glitter in the most brilliant shade of azure. As an edible flower, each little flower contains a drop of nectar that is sweet with the essence of honey and cucumber. Pollinators, especially honeybees, love borage blooms, and you will never find the plants without the company of beneficial insects. Add the refreshing blooms to salads, use as garnish, or make a cooling tea. The leaves, which also taste like cucumber, are cooked or made into cooling drinks and teas. Borage is believed to originate from the Mediterranean and has been used medicinally for many centuries. In the first century, Dioscorides said borage could “comfort the heart and purge melancholy.” Care Best grown as a perennial in zones 2-11. Borage thrives in full sun, though it can tolerate partial shade, and is adaptable to various soil types. Growth Habit As a deciduous perennial, Borage grows 2 to 3 foot tall and has clusters of sky-blue little starry flowers and silvery-green leaves that add contrast to other garden plants. Harvest these dainty "bluest of blue" flowers with their mild, cucumber taste to use as garnishes and decorations. Toxicity This plant is toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. Its fuzzy leaves and strong scent deter deer, making it a good choice for gardens where deer are a problem.
