Unless you frequent botanical gardens, it’s very possible to have never seen, or heard, of borage. While borage is considered an herb and is edible, it isn’t commonly grown for harvest and consumption. Borage’s real usefulness in the home garden comes in its ability to attract pollinators to the surrounding crops, thanks in part to it’s vibrant blue and pink flowers.

So you’ve decided to plant borage in your garden? According to our research on borage, you can plant anything nearby!

When planting borage in a home garden, it’s best to start them direct from seed. Cover the seeds with an inch or two of soil, and keep the area well watered. Borage is very soil tolerant, and really only requires sunlight and regular watering. If planted in an area with poor soil, amend the soil with some organic matter before planting, or by feeding the plants with a fertilizer that is high in phosphorous to promote the borage plants to flower and attract pollinators to the garden.

Borage’s main purpose in home gardens is to act as a companion to the crops being grown, attracting bees and other pollinators with their vibrant flowers. The flowers and leaves are edible, but be aware that as the plant grows, it develops prickly leaves and stems. It’s an additional line of defense for your home garden, but if you can get past the borage leaves’ prickers, they make for a nice burst of color and flavor in salads, soups, and drinks.