Growing Borage, also Burrage, Bugloss

Borago officinalis : Boraginaceae / the borage family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
                S S S S
                  T T T
                  P P P

(Best months for growing Borage in Australia - temperate regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 10°C and 25°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 20 cm apart
  • Harvest in 8-10 weeks. Use leaves before flowers appear, otherwise they will be 'hairy'. .
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Strawberry, tomatoes, zucchini/squash. Deters pests from many plants.

Your comments and tips

04 Dec 19, Janet (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
What can I plant around borage so I won’t get in contact with the prickly plant? Chillies? Pepper? Lemon grass? Area is sunny but windy.
05 Dec 19, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have grown borage the last two years, the plants have been huge, 1.2m high and 1.8-2.0m diameter. I suggest you grow them where you are not going to walk around much.
03 Jul 18, Ali babakhanian (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi where can I buy borage seed.?
04 Jul 18, Mike L (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Boondie - New Life Seeds - The Seed Collection Company
03 Jul 18, Chris (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Green Harvest sells borage seed
12 Mar 18, Helen Rowe (Australia - tropical climate)
Can I grow Borage in far North Queensland have tried once didn't have too much success
13 Mar 18, Mike (Australia - tropical climate)
It says here plant from May June - try then.
18 Jan 18, Helen Brown (Australia - temperate climate)
I have painted Borage flowers with egg white and then sprinkled them with fine sugar, very pretty cake decoration, they will last a long time in air tight container if perfectly dried before storage. Freshly picked Borage flowers and Marigold petals, when sprinkled over salad, will win you a 10 out of 10 for presentation
29 Nov 17, JB (Australia - temperate climate)
I would be careful when planting it as a companion in among other plants because it grows very large and spreads everywhere and can actually end up shading other plants and taking up a lot of room. It's a great way to attract bees though so I would recommend setting an area where there is space for it to grow aside and planting it there. It flowers pretty much all year round and pops up absolutely everywhere once it gets going which is good because you can cut it back or pull it out when it's in the way and you know it will appear again later somewhere in the garden.
17 Oct 14, Elizabeth (Australia - temperate climate)
I thought Comfrey was good as a fertiliser, not Borage. If it is that's great as I find it coming up everywhere! I keep bees and they love it. It grows nine months a year here. Flowers look lovely in ice blocks.
Showing 11 - 20 of 30 comments

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