Annual Herb Commonly Called Borage

Identification

• Borage grows to be between 1 and 2 feet tall. Prickly white hairs coat the plant's hollow stems and 3-inch spear-shaped leaves. Star-shaped bright blue flowers blossom from June to October. The flowers contain distinctive brown anthers, or stamens that contain pollen, that form a cone in the center of the plant.

Cultivation

• Borage grows especially well in chalky or sandy soil, but it tolerates a variety of different well-drained soil types. It prefers a pH level between 4.8 and 8.3, according to Plants for a Future. The herb grows in full sun or partial shade. Borage is hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 7. The plant maintains itself by self-sowing.

Benefits

• Borage improves lung function in seriously ill patients, lessens the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and may lessen the effects of depression, according to Plants for a Future. Add the leaves to salads or include them as an ingredient in dishes. The blossoms produce an edible blue dye. The plant is attractive to bees and increases honey yields.