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Borage

About Borage

Starflower is an annual plant with bright, blue flowers and edible leaves. It grows well in all types of soil, including nutritionally poor soil. The plant contains small amounts of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which may cause liver damage and cancer if eaten regularly.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Borago officinalis

Genus

Borago

Family

Boraginaceae

Order

Boraginales

Also known as

Starflower

How to care for Borage

💦 Water

How often to water your Borage

Borage needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Borage in your home

Borage love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Borage does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Borage in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Borage

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Borage: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Borage after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #Borage

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Borage is generally considered an easy-to-care-for plant and makes a great choice for beginners!

How to Grow Borage →

Benefits of Growing Borage →

Common Borage Problems →

Outdoor Care Guide for Borage →

💦 Water Needs

Borage prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Borage Water Frequency →

Borage Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Borage requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Borage Light Requirements →

Borage Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Borage is extremely dangerous if consumed. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian immediately. Borage is not recommended for homes with children, cats, or dogs.

Is Borage Edible? →

Borage Toxicity to Cats →

Borage Toxicity to Dogs →

Borage Toxicity to Humans →

🪴 Soil

Borage does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Borage →

Best Pots for Borage →

When and How to Successfully Repot Borage →

What Are Healthy Borage Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

Borage should be repotted after it doubles in size or once a year, whichever comes first. Fresh potting soil has all the nutrients your plant needs, so as long as it’s refreshed yearly, you shouldn’t need to use fertilizer. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize Borage →

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Borage grows along the ground and sends out shoots which will spread across the soil.

Borage Lifecycle →

Borage Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Borage →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Borage can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 2a-11b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Borage Temperature Tolerance →

Borage Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with Borage →

When to Plant Borage →

How to Plant Borage →

Where to Plant Borage →

Winter Care for Borage →

Best Companion Plants for Borage →

Is Borage a Weed? →

🌱 Propagation

The seeds of Borage can be used to grow new plants! After your plant flowers, any seeds that formed can be collected and germinated in potting soil.

How to Propagate Borage →

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Borage, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.