herbAnnualEdible

Borage

Borago officinalis

Also known as: bee bush, starflower

Edible blue star-shaped flowers with cucumber flavor. Excellent bee plant. Self-seeds freely once established.

Growing Requirements

SunFull Sun

WaterMedium

Soil Type

Soil Drainage

Soil pH

Plant Spacing12–18″

Row Spacing18–24″

Planting Depth0.25–0.5″

Height18–30″

Spread12–18″

✗ Not Container Friendly✓ Raised Bed Friendly

Planting Schedule

Direct Sow (Spring)

2–3 weeks before last frost

Germination

5–10 days

Days to Harvest

50–65 days

Zone Suitability

USDA Hardiness Zones

Zones 2–11

Cannot overwinter outdoors

Direct sow preferred — does not transplant well due to taproot. Self-seeds aggressively. Frost tolerant.

Companion Plants

Good Companions (6)

Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum

vegetable

Attracts pollinators and may deter tomato hornworm

Confidence: Medium

Zucchini

Cucurbita pepo

vegetable

Attracts pollinators and may deter squash pests

Confidence: Medium

Yellow Squash

Cucurbita pepo var. recticollis

vegetable

Attracts pollinators and may deter squash pests

Confidence: Medium

Pumpkin

Cucurbita maxima

vegetable

Attracts pollinators and may deter squash pests

Confidence: Medium

Strawberry

Fragaria × ananassa

fruit

Attracts pollinators and may improve strawberry yield

Confidence: High

Blueberry

Vaccinium corymbosum

fruit

Attracts pollinators essential for blueberry fruit set

Confidence: Medium

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