Benefits of Borage Herb

Also known as Bugloss, Burrage, and Common Bugloss. From the family Boraginaceae.

Borage is indigenous to Mediterranean countries, but has now been naturalized in Northern Europe and North America. In fact one can find escapees growing happily on wasteland.

The origin of the name is obscure. The French 'bourrache', is said to derive from an old word meaning 'rough' or 'hairy', which may describe the leaf but the herb's beautiful, pure blue flowers are its feature and are supposed to have inspired the painting of the robes of the Madonna, and charmed Louis XIV into ordering the herb to be planted at Versailles.

The herb's Welsh name translates as 'herb of gladness'; and in Arabic it is 'the father of sweat', which we can accept as borage is a diaphoretic. The Celtic word 'borrach' means 'courage', however, and in this we have an association more credible by far. The Greeks and Romans regarded borage as both comforting and imparting courage, and this belief so persisted that Gerard was able to quote the tag, Ego borage gaudia semper ago in his Herbal. It was for courage, too, that borage flowers were floated in stirrup cups given to the Crusaders. Clearly, too, the American Settlers thought sufficiently highly of borage to take the seed with them on their long adventure. Records of it were found in a seed order of an American in 1631, where it was called burradge.

SPECIES

Borago officinalis

Borage

Hardy annual (very occasionally biennial). Ht 60cm (24in) with hollow, bristly branches and spreading stems. The blue or purplish star-shaped flowers grow in loose racemes from early summer to mid-autumn. The leaves are bristly, oval or oblong. At the base they form a rosette; others grow alternately on either side of the stem.

Borago officinalis 'Alba'

White Borage

Hardy annual. Ht 60cm (2ft). White star-shaped flowers end-spring through summer. Bristly, oval, oblong leaves. Can be used as B. officinalis.

Cultivation

Propagation

Borage is best grown directly from seed in its final position, as it does not like having its long tap root disturbed. But for an early crop it is as well to start the seeds under protection. In early spring sow singly in small pots. Transplant to final position as soon as possible after hardening off, when the seedling is large enough and all threat of frosts is over.

Pests and Diseases

Black fly. If you are growing borage as a companion plant this will not worry you, but if it is becoming a nuisance then spray with liquid horticultural soap. A disease, which can be unsightly at the end of the season, is a form of mildew, but it is not worth using chemicals so late in the year. Dig the plant up and burn.

Maintenance

Spring: Sow seeds. They germinate quickly and plants are full grown in 5-6 weeks.

Summer: Sow seeds. Look out for flower heads turning into seeds - collect or destroy if you do not want borage plants all over the garden. Dead head flowers to prolong flowering season.

Autumn: As the plants begin to die back collect up the old plants. Do not compost the flower heads or next year you will have a garden full of unwanted borage.

Winter: Borage lasts until the first major frost, and some years it is the last flowering herb in the garden.

Garden Cultivation

Borage prefers a well-drained, light, rather poor soil of chalk or sand, and a sunny position. Sow borage seeds 5cm (2in) deep in mid-spring and again in late spring for continuous supply of young leaves and flowers. Thin seedlings to 60cm (24in) apart and from other herbs, as they produce lots of floppy growth.

I have used borage as an exhibit plant at flower shows, and have found that by continuously dead heading the flowers you can maintain a good supply of flowers for longer.

Harvest

Pick flowers fresh or for freezing or (Irving when they are just fully opened.

Cut the young leaves fresh throughout summer. They do not dry or freeze very successfully.

Collect seed before the plant dies back fully. Store in a light-proof container in a cool place.

Companion growing

Borage is a good companion plant as the flower is very attractive to bees helping with pollination, especially runner beans and strawberries. Also borage attracts black fly to itself so leaving the other plants alone. Equally if planted near tomatoes it can control tomato worm.

Container growing

It is not suitable for container growing indoors. However, when planted outside in large containers (like a half barrel); borage can be very effective combined with other tall plants like oxeye daisies, poppies and cornflowers.

Culinary

Be brave, try a young leaf. It may be hairy, some would say prickly, but once in the mouth the hairs dissolve and the flavor is of cool cucumber. Great cut up in salads, or with cream cheese, or added to yoghurt, or even in an egg mayonnaise sandwich. And they give a refreshing flavor to summer cold drinks. Finally fresh leaves are particularly good to use in a salt-free diet as they are rich in mineral salts. Try them combined with spinach or added to ravioli stuffing.

The flowers are exciting tossed in a salad, floated on top of a glass of Pimms No 1, or crystallized for cake decoration. Also excellent as garnish for savory or sweet dishes, and on iced soups.

Facial steam for dry, sensitive skin

Place 2 large handfuls of borage leaves in a bowl. Pour over 1.5 litres (3 pints) of boiling water. Stir quickly with a wooden spoon. Using a towel as a tent, place your face about 30cm (12in) over the water. Cover your head with towel. Keep your eyes closed and maintain for about 10-15 minutes. Afterwards rinse your face with tepid cool water. Use a yarrow infusion dabbed on with cotton wool to close pores.

Other uses

Dried flowers to add color to potpourris. Children enjoy stringing them together as a necklace. Add to summer flower arrangements. As a novelty burn the whole plant - the nitrate of potash will emit sparks and little explosive sounds like fireworks.

MEDICINAL

In the 1980s borage was found to contain GLA, gamma linoleic acid, an even more valuable medicinal substance than Evening Primrose Oil. But cultivation problems coincided with a dramatic slump in prices because a waste, black currant pulp provided a cheaper and richer source of GLA. So hopes for the future of borage as a commercial crop have diminished recently, but it deserves more medicinal research.

Borage tea is said to be good for reducing high temperatures when taken hot. This is because in inducing sweat - it is a diaphoretic - it lowers the fever. This makes it a good remedy for colds and flu especially when these infect the lungs as it is also good for coughs. Both leaves and flowers are rich in potassium and calcium and are therefore good blood purifiers and a tonic.

Borage Tea

Small handful of fresh leaves

600ml/1 pint/2½ cups of boiling water

Simmer for 5 minutes.

Natural Night-cap

3 teaspoons fresh borage leaves

1 cup (250ml) boiling water

1 teaspoon honey

1 slice lemon

Put the roughly chopped borage leaves into a warmed cup and pour over the boiling water. Cover with a saucer and leave the leaves to infuse for at least five minutes. Strain and add the lemon slice and honey. Drink hot just before retiring to bed.