Borage
Borago officinalis
Borage is an annual for mid-border, suited to full sun and clay, loam or sandy soil, flowering Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.
| Type | Annual |
|---|---|
| Mature height | 60 cm |
| Spread | 45 cm |
| Aspect | full sun |
| Foliage | Deciduous |
| Hardiness | USDA 3a-9a, RHS H5 |
| Pollinator-friendly | Yes |
| Pet-safe | No |
Where to use it in a border
At around 60 cm, it sits best through the middle of a border, between taller structure behind and edging in front. Give it about 45 cm of room to spread, roughly 2 to the metre when planted in a drift. It is hardy across USDA zones 3a to 9a and rated H5 by the RHS, so check it suits your area before planting.
It appears in our lists of full sun, clay soil, sandy soil, pollinator-friendly plants.
Border Builder uses Borage's height, spread, soil, bloom months and companions to place it in a full border plan for your own conditions, on iPhone and iPad.
Flowering through the year
Worth knowing
- Not recorded as pet-safe; site it away from pets that graze if that matters to you.
- Its flowers are valued by bees and other pollinators.
Good companions
Plants that share its conditions and style, chosen to complement its place in the border:
- Allium 'Purple Sensation'to flower when it does not
- American Wisteria 'Amethyst Falls'for height behind it
- Apple 'Bramley's Seedling'for height behind it
- Apple 'Cox's Orange Pippin'for height behind it
- Avensto edge in front
- Avens 'Lady Stratheden'to edge in front