Are Borage Plants Deer Resistant?

Deer Resistance

• Borage, or Borago officinalis, rarely sustains deer damage, according to the University of Illinois Extension. This may be due to the plant's prickly stems or strong fragrance, both of which can repel deer.

Culture

• An annual herb, borage grows from 1 to 3 feet tall. Plants prefer sunny spots and soil with a pH between 4.5 to 8.3, a wide range. Borage can be grown from seed and will self-sow. Borage produces blue or purple flowers.

Uses

• Borage leaves and flowers can be eaten in salads, sandwiches and soups. Borage can be used to flavor wine and gin, and the plants' seeds are a source of linolenic acid. Medicinally, borage has been used as a diuretic, an emollient and to treat jaundice, fever and kidney problems.