Pollinator plant

Borage

Borago officinalis

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Common names

48 names · 30 languages
EnglishYour language
+6 more namesShow fewer names
  • Cool Tankard[1]
  • Cool-tankard
  • Cover Crop[1]
  • Starflower[1]
  • Tailwort[1]
  • Talewort[1]
Other languages (29)
Dutch
  • Bernagie[4][6]
  • Borage
  • Komkommerkruid
French
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 玻璃苣、琉璃苣[6]
  • 琉璃苣[6]
Czech
  • brutnák lékařský[6]
Danish
Estonian
  • harilik kurgirohi[6]
Finnish
  • rohtopurasruoho[6]
Galician
German
Greek
  • Μποράντζα[6]
Hungarian
  • kerti borágó[6]
Irish
  • Borráiste gorm[6]
Italian
Japanese
  • ルリヂシャ[6]
Kabyle
  • Chikh Lavqul[6]
Lithuanian
  • Vaistinė agurklė[6]
Norwegian
Polish
  • Ogórecznik lekarski[6]
Portuguese
Russian
  • Бурачник лекарственный[6]
Slovak
  • borák lekársky[6]
Slovenian
  • boreč[6]
  • Zdravilna boraga[6]
Spanish
Swedish
Turkish
Ukrainian
  • Огірочник лікарський[6]
Welsh
  • Tafod yr ych[6]
Sources & name notes (6)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Borago officinalis — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Borage — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Borago officinalis.
  • Tailwort — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(5); heading: Common Name(s):; Borago officinalis.
  • Cool Tankard — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Borago officinalis.
  • Cover Crop — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Borago officinalis.
  • Starflower — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(4); heading: Common Name(s):; Borago officinalis.
  • Talewort — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(6); heading: Common Name(s):; Borago officinalis.
[2] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • borage — Page 2, column 1, row top 517 pt; common-name cell after Borago officinalis.; Borago officinalis.
[3] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • borage — Page 3, column 1, row top 157 pt; common-name cell after Borago officinalis.; Borago officinalis.
[4] Borago officinalis — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Borage — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • Bernagie — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • Bourrache officinale — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • Borretsch — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • Boražina — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • Boraja — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • borraja — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • Borraggine comune — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • Borragine — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • Borragem — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
[5] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Borago officinalis ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Garten-Borretsch (DE); Borage (EN); Borraja (ES) — VernacularName.tsv, line 145347; taxon MJ92.
[6] Borago officinalis — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Borage — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • Bernagie — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • Bourrache officinale — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • Borretsch — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • Boražina — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • Boraja — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • borraja — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • Borraggine comune — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • Borragine — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • Borragem — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • Borraina — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • brutnák lékařský — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • Hjulkrone — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • agurkurt — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • Бурачник лекарственный — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • rohtopurasruoho — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • Μποράντζα — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • Ogórecznik lekarski — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • ルリヂシャ — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • harilik kurgirohi — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • 琉璃苣 — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • 琉璃苣 — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • gurkört — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • Vaistinė agurklė — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • Borraxe — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • Soaxe — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • 玻璃苣、琉璃苣 — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • Zdravilna boraga — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • kerti borágó — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • borratja — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • Borráiste gorm — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • Огірочник лікарський — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • borák lekársky — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • Tafod yr ych — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • Chikh Lavqul — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • boreč — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • Hodan — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
  • Kaldırık — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 52287; Borago officinalis.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Borago officinalis is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Boraginaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
0.48–0.97 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
0.3–0.41 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Spreading

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Annual

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Medium

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Deciduous

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Occasionally Dry

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Autumn; Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: bees, pollinators.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Pollinator guidance
RHS includes Borago officinalis in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.

RHS planting guidance. Choose accessible flowers with pollen and nectar; reduced-resource and double-flowered forms may be unsuitable.

Sources [3] [4]
Native range
W. & C. Medit.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [5]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

High suitability
Nectar value High
Pollen value High
Agroforestry database

Complete plant information

Open full plant profile

Structure

Vegetation layer
Herbaceous
Size
Small
Dimensions
0.60 m high × 0.30 m wide
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifecycle
Annual

Site conditions

USDA hardiness
6-9
Moisture
Moist, Well-drained
Soil
Sandy, Loamy, Clay
pH
Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
Light
Partial shade, Sun

Uses

Edible parts
Leaves, Flowers, Oil, Tea
Functions
Nitrogen fixer, Dye, Oil, Repellent, Pollinator plant
Edibility
3 out of 5
Medicinal value
3 out of 5

Leaves can be eaten both raw and cooked. They can serve as an herb in dishes or be added to salads. The leaves have a salty taste and are rich in potassium and calcium. It is best to finely chop the hairy leaves and add them to other leafy greens in a salad due to their texture. Fresh use of the leaves is recommended since they lose flavor and color when dried. The flowers can be eaten raw and are often used as decoration on salads and in summer drinks. They have a sweet, slightly cucumber-like flavor and are also used to make refreshing tea. The dried stems of the plant are used to flavor beverages. The seeds of the plant contain 30% oil, of which 20% is gamma-linolenic acid. The yields from the plant range between 0.35-0.65 tons per hectare. Harvesting the seeds can be challenging because they ripen at different times and fall off the plant when ripe. The flowers of the plant can be used to obtain an edible blue dye that is also used to color vinegar.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Borago officinalis — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 5022490; ID MJ92; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 5022490; ID MJ92; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Borago officinalis — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Garden Plants

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 3, column 1, entry Borago officinalis (top 157 pt)

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Plants Of The World

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 2, column 1, entry Borago officinalis (top 517 pt)

    Source checked on .

  5. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Borago officinalis — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 1327530; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 1215819, 1215820, 1215821, 1215822, 1215823, 1215824, 1215825, 1215826, 1215827, 1215829, 1215831, 1215841, 1215842, 1215843, 1215844

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.