Guest post by Katrina & Clayton
Borage (Borago officinalis) this is herb noted primarily for its sky blue flowers, and is a wonderful edible flower to grow in Scottish gardens. With its striking star shaped flowers, soft textured leaves and long flowering period, it brings both beauty and function to beds, borders and food forests. Known for attracting pollinators and improving soil health, borage is a versatile plant that thrives in Scotland’s climate. Its flowers are not only decorative but also edible, adding colour and a mild cucumber like flavour to a range of dishes. Easy to grow and generous in its self seeding habit, borage is ideal for gardeners looking to combine productivity with biodiversity.
The flowers of borage are the most popular edible part, known for their vibrant blue colour and mild cucumber flavour. They can be added fresh to salads, used as garnishes, frozen into ice cubes for drinks or used to decorate cakes and desserts. Their visual appeal makes them particularly valuable in summer dishes. The young leaves are also edible, though they have a slightly fuzzy texture. They can be used sparingly in salads or cooked in soups and stews. As leaves mature, they become tougher and are better suited to cooking. Harvesting both flowers and leaves regularly encourages continued growth and flowering.
Growing Conditions and Soil for Borage
Borage grows exceptionally well in Scotland, tolerating cool temperatures, light frosts and variable weather. It prefers a position in full sun, where it will produce the most flowers, but it can also grow in partial shade, particularly in more sheltered gardens. In exposed areas, some protection from strong winds is beneficial, as mature plants can become top heavy and prone to bending over. One of borage’s strengths is its adaptability to different soil types. It will grow in most soils, but performs best in well drained soil with moderate fertility. Very rich soils can lead to excessive leafy growth at the expense of flowers, while poor soils may limit overall vigour. In Scotland’s often heavy or clay based soils, adding compost or organic matter improves structure and drainage, we use Caledonian Green Goodness. Once established, borage is relatively drought tolerant, though it appreciates consistent moisture during dry spells.
Planting Times for Borage
Borage is typically grown from seed and in Scotland it can be sown directly outdoors from April to June, once the soil begins to warm. For an earlier start, seeds can be sown indoors in March and transplanted once the risk of hard frost has passed. Borage germinates quickly and establishes easily, making it suitable for direct sowing in most cases.
For a continuous display of flowers, succession sowing every few weeks through late Spring and early Summer is recommended. Borage readily self seeds, so once established, it often returns year after year without further planting. Seeds should be sown about 1–2 cm deep and spaced around 30–45 cm apart to allow room for mature growth.
Caring for Borage Plants
Pruning borage is simple and largely involves regular harvesting and light maintenance. Removing spent flowers can help prolong the flowering period, although many gardeners leave them to encourage self seeding. Deadheading is particularly useful if you wish to prevent the plant from spreading too freely.
As the season progresses, older plants can become sprawling. Cutting back leggy stems encourages bushier growth and keeps plants more compact. At the end of the growing season, plants can be cut down and composted, returning nutrients to the soil. In many gardens, new seedlings will already be emerging to replace them.
If you wish to control where borage grows, seeds can be collected once flower heads dry and stored for sowing in desired locations. This approach allows for easy management while still benefiting from the plant’s natural regenerative habit.
Borage is a low maintenance plant, making it ideal for both beginner and experienced gardeners. During its early stages, regular watering helps seedlings establish, but once mature, borage is relatively tolerant of dry conditions. In Scotland’s climate, natural rainfall is often sufficient for most of the growing season.
Feeding is rarely necessary, particularly in soils that have been improved with organic matter. Overfeeding can reduce flower production, so it is best to keep inputs minimal. Borage is generally free from pests and diseases, and its hairy leaves can deter many insects. Occasional support may be needed for larger plants to prevent them from flopping over, especially in windy conditions.
Companion Planting with Borage
Borage is widely regarded as one of the best companion plants in the garden. Its flowers attract bees and other pollinators, which benefit nearby crops such as strawberries, courgettes and fruiting plants and trees. It is particularly effective when planted near tomatoes, where it is believed to improve growth and deter pests.
In mixed beds and food forests, borage acts as a dynamic accumulator, drawing nutrients from deeper soil layers and making them available to surrounding plants. As leaves break down, they enrich the soil further. Borage also works well alongside herbs and leafy greens, contributing to a diverse and balanced planting system.
Growing Borage in Scotland
For germination, borage requires light, well drained soil with good contact between seed and soil. Overly compacted soil can hinder seedling emergence, so preparing a loose, crumbly surface is beneficial. During early growth, moderate moisture levels help plants establish strong roots.
As plants mature, borage thrives in soil that is not overly rich but still contains some organic matter. Excessive fertility encourages leafy growth at the expense of flowers, so balanced soil is ideal. A neutral to slightly alkaline pH of around 6.5 to 7.5 suits borage well, though it is tolerant of a range of conditions. Maintaining good drainage remains essential throughout the plant’s life cycle.
To get the best from borage, plant it in a sunny location with well drained soil and allow enough space for it to spread naturally. Sow seeds in succession for continuous flowering and harvest regularly to keep plants productive. Managing self seeding ensures it remains an asset rather than becoming overcrowded.
Borage is a benefial plant for Scottish gardens, combining ornamental beauty, edible value and ecological benefits. Its ability to thrive in cool climates, attract pollinators and self seed freely makes it a dependable choice for gardeners seeking low maintenance crops.
Whether grown in raised beds, kitchen gardens or food forests, borage offers continuous interest and productivity throughout the growing season. Borage can become a staple edible flower, bringing both colour and function to the garden year after year.
Katrina & Clayton
Katrina & Clayton live with their family in East Ayrshire in Scotland and share their daily life in the garden on instagram @buildingfoodforest_scotland. They practice permaculture principles, reducing & repurposing waste whenever they can. Katrina shows how home educating in nature has helped Clayton thrive.
Clayton Completed The Grow and Learn Course with the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society in 2022. This year he will be completing Level 2 Nurture Course. Clayton is 16, Autistic, Non Verbal & has been Home Educated for the last 6yrs. Both Katrina and husband Peter have studied the Permaculture Design Course PDC and PDC Pro over the last 5yrs, developing their garden from grass to an ongoing food forest.
They have featured on BBC Beechgrove Gardens, Gardeners World Magazine and write for Scotland Grows Magazine. Katrina has a series of children’s story books out following the life of Clayton in the garden. Available at Amazon.
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