Borago officinalis (borage)

Borago officinalis leaves

Leaf type: Ovate, oval, lanceolate
Phyllotaxis: Alternate (stem leaves), whorled (basal leaves)
Colour: Green
Life cycle: Annual to biennial

Leaf (upper side)

Borago officinalis leaf
Basal leaf in spring.

Habitus & biology

Borago officinalis usually grows as an annual and reaches a height of between 20 and 60 centimetres. The base leaves are oval to ovoid, the upper stem leaves are elongated/lanceolate in shape. The leaves and shoots contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which is why they should only be used occasionally as an aromatic herb.

Borago officinalis habitus
Habitus in spring (March). I found the plant in a bush in front of an allotment site. Green waste is also ‘disposed of’ there, which can be easily recognised by the roots and soil residues at the bottom left.
Borago officinalis habitus flowering
Habitus flowering in April. The picture shows the plant from the allotment site a few weeks later. The trains that regularly pass by this location will help to spread its seeds far and wide.

Distribution & habitates

The original distribution area is in North Africa, Southern Europe and Western Europe. As an aromatic herb, borage also found its way to North America, South America and some Asian regions (source).

Borago officinalis thrives best in sunny and warm locations, but can also survive in partial shade. It can be found growing wild, mostly near gardens, on roadsides, in weedy areas, on rubble heaps and embankments.

Borago officinalis by the wayside
Borago officinalis by the wayside.

Botany

Borago officinalis is colloquially known as borage or starflower and belongs to the forget-me-not family (Boraginaceae).

Borago officinalis borage
Borage with white and blue flowers.

(Random) related plants:

Phacelia tanacetifolia Phacelia tanacetifolia
Viper’s bugloss leaves Echium vulgare (viper’s bugloss)
Symphytum officinale leaves Symphytum officinale (common comfrey)
Omphalodes verna Alba Omphalodes verna