Cold hardiness

Heat tolerance

Where this plant fits

Suitable across 45 ecoregions — 45 climate-resilient through 2070. Best matches first.

What it needs

Lifecycle

Pollination

Borage is a classic bee plant — its open, star-shaped blue flowers are a well-documented nectar source and both Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder and NC State Extension flag it as attracting bees and other wildlife. The flowers are self-fertile but readily insect-pollinated, and borage is widely interplanted in vegetable gardens specifically to draw pollinators.

Plants don't grow alone

For people

Leaves and flowers are edible: tender leaves may be eaten raw or cooked like spinach (they taste of cucumber and lose flavor when dried), and the bright blue flowers make attractive garnishes in salads and cold drinks (Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder). IMPORTANT: NC State Extension warns the plant contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) that can damage the liver and lungs and are potentially carcinogenic, so it should only be used sparingly, and any borage seed oil should be certified PA-free.

Climate notes

In the designer

Botanical research database

Photo · CC0 1.0 — public domain dedication

University extension service