Borage Banter

Category: Garden Gab | Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 9:43 pm

I got a great deal of feedback on the picture of Borage that I posted on my last blog. Let me respond to those who expressed an interest in the plant.

Borage is my favorite weed. No really, it is. By definition, a weed, is any plant growing where it is not wanted. Believe me when I say that Borage is indeed a weed. It will grow practically everywhere and anywhere. I planted a package of the seed four years ago and I haven't had to buy another package since. Not only does it seem to grow everywhere, it reseeds like mad. I even get new borage plants in mid-season.

In the spring I locate likely candidates, wherever they happen to be thriving, scoop them up and plant them just where I want them. The rest I just treat like garden weeds. I would not say they are pest, they make my life really easy - I can stick them anywhere I need a filler plant and they will happily oblige with quick growth that will quickly reach a height of about 24 inches.

They are also attractive and unusual. Brilliant blue star shaped flowers nod in the breeze and bloom all summer long. Though the blossoms are small, they are showy and highly attractive to bees. Even better the pretty little flowers can be candied and used to decorate cakes as an edible garnish. They can also be dried to add color to potpourri.

The leaves are fairly plain looking and are covered in hairy fibers, giving them a fuzzy appearance. The young leaves can be added to salads.Older leaves can be chopped and added to soups and stews during the last few minutes of cooking. Some people cook them with cabbage leaves (two parts cabbage to one part borage.) Borage is rich in minerals, especially potassium. A tea made with borage is said to help reduce fevers and ease chest colds.

A nifty plant all round, ridiculously easy to grow. If you want to get children interested in gardening - let them plant some borage. They will be enchanted and delighted with this quick growing herb.

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