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Herb · Boraginaceae family

Borage

Borago officinalis

Full sun to part shade 0.48–0.96 m × 0.3–0.4 m Flowers June–September Harvest June–July Low maintenance
Flower colours Click a colour

In short a 10-second read

SunFull sun to part shade
Size0.48–0.96 m
spacing 30 cm
FlowersJune–September
PruningJuly
Care levelLow maintenance

Where to plant and how much to water

Sun, soil and water.

It grows best in full sun to part shade, in dry to average soil.

Sun

Sun6 hours or more
Part shade3–6 hours
Shadeunder 3 h

Soil

tolerates any pH
acidicneutralalkaline
dry to averageclayloamysandy

Watering

Borage — Watering
drought tolerant once establishedless when it rains

How much space it takes

Mature size.

The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).

50 cm1 m1.5 m0.48–0.96 mspread 0.3–0.4 m
0.48–0.96 m× spread 0.3–0.4 m

Plant 30 cm apart.

How to plant: singly, 50 cm apart

The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.

Calendar

Through the year.

Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.

The year at a glance

Flowers: JanuaryFlowers: FebruaryFlowers: MarchFlowers: AprilFlowers: MayFlowers: JuneFlowers: JulyFlowers: AugustFlowers: SeptemberFlowers: OctoberFlowers: NovemberFlowers: DecemberSowing: JanuarySowing: FebruarySowing: MarchSowing: AprilSowing: MaySowing: JuneSowing: JulySowing: AugustSowing: SeptemberSowing: OctoberSowing: NovemberSowing: DecemberFeeding: JanuaryFeeding: FebruaryFeeding: MarchFeeding: AprilFeeding: MayFeeding: JuneFeeding: JulyFeeding: AugustFeeding: SeptemberFeeding: OctoberFeeding: NovemberFeeding: DecemberPruning: JanuaryPruning: FebruaryPruning: MarchPruning: AprilPruning: MayPruning: JunePruning: JulyPruning: AugustPruning: SeptemberPruning: OctoberPruning: NovemberPruning: DecemberHarvest: JanuaryHarvest: FebruaryHarvest: MarchHarvest: AprilHarvest: MayHarvest: JuneHarvest: JulyHarvest: AugustHarvest: SeptemberHarvest: OctoberHarvest: NovemberHarvest: DecemberJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
FlowersSowingFeedingPruningHarvest
Now, in October: nothing to do — the next job is in April.
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Flowers

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

June–September · blue

Sowing

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

direct sowing: April–May

Feeding

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

March–April

Pruning

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

cut back partly (July)

Harvest

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

June–July

Feeding

Nutrition.

Borage — Feeding
Compost

3 l/m² once in spring · March–April

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Pruning

When and how to prune.

Months apply to Central Europe.

Borage — Cut back partly

Cut back partly

Jul
How to prunePrune moderately: flowered shoots (back to strong young growth).

Pests and diseases

Common problems and what to do.

The most common problems in Central Europe. Protection is listed from the gentlest option.

What you will see

Irregular holes in leaves and slime trails, especially on young plants in damp weather.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Changing growing practices is the best strategy; protect young plants.
  2. By handEvening collection by torchlight in damp weather; barriers (copper tape, wool pellets).
  3. Biological moist, warm soilPhasmarhabditis hermaphrodita nematodes watered into the soil.
Slugs and snailspest

What you will see

Irregular holes in leaves and slime trails, especially on young plants in damp weather.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Changing growing practices is the best strategy; protect young plants.
  2. By handEvening collection by torchlight in damp weather; barriers (copper tape, wool pellets).
  3. Biological moist, warm soilPhasmarhabditis hermaphrodita nematodes watered into the soil.
More about this problem

What you will see

White powdery coating on leaves, stems and flowers; leaves may become distorted.

When to look

From spring onwards

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Destroy fallen infected leaves in autumn; do not over-feed, and protect from drought (stress invites powdery mildew).
  2. By hand autumnPrune out infected shoots early and destroy fallen leaves.
Powdery mildewsdisease · from spring onwards

What you will see

White powdery coating on leaves, stems and flowers; leaves may become distorted.

When to look

From spring onwards

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Destroy fallen infected leaves in autumn; do not over-feed, and protect from drought (stress invites powdery mildew).
  2. By hand autumnPrune out infected shoots early and destroy fallen leaves.
More about this problem
Sources (3)

Frequently asked

Quick answers.

When does borage flower?

In June–September; the flowers are blue.

When do I sow borage?

In April–May (direct sowing).

When is borage harvested?

In June–July.

Does borage tolerate shade?

It tolerates part shade (3–6 hours of sun), but not full shade.

How much space does borage need?

At maturity 0.3–0.4 m wide and 0.48–0.96 m tall; recommended spacing 30 cm.

Slugs and snails — what can you do?

Changing growing practices is the best strategy; protect young plants. Evening collection by torchlight in damp weather; barriers (copper tape, wool pellets).

Powdery mildews — what can you do?

Destroy fallen infected leaves in autumn; do not over-feed, and protect from drought (stress invites powdery mildew). Prune out infected shoots early and destroy fallen leaves.

Sources (8) Checked 22 October 2026

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