Borage

Easily grown in average, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to light shade. Tolerates poor soils and drought. Start seeds indoors in peat pots or sow directly in garden beds in early spring. This annual will remain in the garden from year to year by self seeding. Borago officinalis is native to the Mediterranean region. It is a rough, sprawling annual that grows to 1-3’ tall. It features showy, open racemes of drooping, star-shaped, bright blue flowers in summer atop branched stems clad with wrinkled, edible, dull gray-green leaves (to 6” long) having the taste and fragrance of cucumber. Stems and leaves are covered with bristly hairs. Tender leaves may be eaten raw or cooked in somewhat the same manner as spinach. Leaves lose their flavor when dried.