Also known as starflower, borage is an herb notable for its vibrant purple flowers and medicinal properties. In traditional medicine, borage has been used to dilate blood vessels, act as a sedative, and treat seizures (5).
This of course begs the query “What is borage used for?”
Our answer is that borage is a plant . Its flowers and leaves, as well as the oil from its seeds are used as medicine. Borage seed oil is used for skin disorders including eczema ( atopic dermatitis ), red, itchy rash on the scalp ( seborrheic dermatitis ), and a type of skin condition called neurodermatitis.
A frequent question we ran across in our research was “How many types of borage are there?”.
One source claimed most gardeners plant the pure species plant, Borago officinalis. However, there are two common cultivars, as well as a closely related species: Borago officinalis ‘Variegata’ has white mottling on the green leaves. Flowers are less intense than common borage.
Some authors claimed Borage oil is an extract made from the seeds of the Borago officinalis plant . Borage oil is prized for its high gamma linoleic acid (GLA) content.
What insects does borage repel?
Borage repels imported cabbageworm and tomato hornworm 2 . It also attracts beneficial insects and pollinators, such as native bumblebees. Allow it to self-sow, and you will always have some in your garden.
Another frequent query is “How do you use borage to repel bugs?”.
One idea is that it can be mixed with other herbs like tansy and peppermint to make a potent insect repellent. A great companion plant for tomatoes, squash, and strawberries in particular, borage repels tomato horn worms and cabbage white butterflies .
You see, Another kitchen favourite, bay leaves are known to repel weevils and moths. It can be mixed with other herbs like tansy and peppermint to make a potent insect repellent. A great companion plant for tomatoes, squash, and strawberries in particular, borage repels tomato horn worms and cabbage white butterflies.
Borage Borage flowers are helpful pest control if your garden has tomatoes or cabbages. They repel tomato hornworms and cabbage worms—but attract pollinators . So if you plant borage, expect blue, pink flowers to quickly pattern your garden.
Borage flowers are helpful pest control if your garden has tomatoes or cabbages. They repel tomato hornworms and cabbage worms—but attract pollinators . So if you plant borage, expect blue, pink flowers to quickly pattern your garden.
Does borage attract bees?
Borage, an edible blue flower, is highly attractive to bees , competes well with weeds, and blooms continually throughout the season. Our hypothesis is that strawberry flowers closer to the borage patch will receive more insect visits, be more fully pollinated, and thereby produce bigger, higher quality strawberries.
This of course begs the inquiry “Is borage good for bees?”
The bumblebees and honeybees absolutely love borage because the flowers are very rich in nectar . The bright blue blooms are relatively shallow so they attract bees with short tongues, like the buff-tailed bumblebee. Both the flowers and the leaves are edible. Leave some flowers for the bees though! Flowering season: Spring, summer and early autumn.
When I was researching we ran into the question “What attracts bees to your garden?”.
Some think that not only do they help to pollinate flowers and crops, but honey bees work tirelessly to make one of the tastiest and natural sweeteners in the world, honey. Did you know there are bee friendly plants that are great for attracting bees to your garden? Make sure the plants get to the flowering stage as it’s the flowers that attract bees.
What does a borage plant look like?
Borage is an annual plant that is native to the Mediterranean region but has been widely naturalized in other areas. The stem and leaves are covered with coarse, prickly hairs. The bright blue flowers are star-shaped. The fresh plant has a salty flavor and a cucumber-like odor.
One question we ran across in our research was “Why grow borage in your garden?”.
We discovered here are just 15 reasons to grow borage in your garden: 1. Borage is an Edible Crop One of the main reasons to grow borage in your garden is as an edible crop. You can eat the leaves, raw or cooked, and the flowers, raw, as a garnish or in drinks.
If you like companion planting, Borage is great for planting near tomatoes, strawberries, cabbage or squash. The reason why it is good to plant borage near these plants is not only because borage attracts bees, but the bees (and tiny wasps that are also attracted to borage) repel tomato worms and cabbage worms.