Tasty Tuesday Herb Spotlight: Borage

 

Common name: Borage 
Botanical name: Borago officinalis 
Family: Boraginaceae 
 

With its vivid blue (or white!), star-shaped flowers and fuzzy leaves, borage is as beautiful as it is useful. This easy-to-grow annual is beloved by gardeners, pollinators, and herbalists alike—offering edible blooms, beneficial garden support, and a long history of traditional use. 
 
Why Grow Borage? 
 
1. Pollinator Magnet - Borage is famous for attracting bees and beneficial insects, making it one of the best companion plants for vegetable and herb gardens. 
 
2. Edible Flowers & Leaves - The cucumber-flavored flowers are perfect for salads, drinks, and garnishes, while young leaves can be used fresh or cooked. 
 
3. Companion Planting Benefits - Borage is often planted near tomatoes, squash, and strawberries to help improve growth and attract pollinators. 
 
4. Easy & Fast Growing - This annual grows quickly from seed and often self-sows, returning year after year with little effort. 

 

Growing & Care 
 
Light 
• Prefers full sun to partial shade 
• Best flowering occurs in full sun 
 
Water 
• Moderate water needs 
• Drought tolerant once established, but blooms best with consistent moisture 

 

Soil 
• Adaptable to most soil types 
• Prefers well-draining soil but tolerates poorer soils 
 
Growth Habit 
• Upright, bushy annual 
• Grows 18–36 inches tall 
• Readily self-seeds if flowers are left on the plant 
 
Climate & Zones 
• Grown as an annual in all USDA Zones 
• Thrives in cool to warm weather 
 

Growing in Zone 5 
Zone 5 gardeners can grow borage easily from seed each year. 
• Direct sow seeds outdoors after last frost 
• Can also start indoors 3–4 weeks early, but prefers not to be transplanted 
• Expect blooms by early summer and continued flowering through the season 
•  Allow some plants to go to seed if you’d like it to return naturally next year. 
 
Harvesting Borage 
 
What to Harvest 
• Flowers: Pick fresh when fully open 
• Leaves: Harvest young leaves for best flavor and texture 
 
When to Harvest 
• Harvest throughout the growing season 
• Pick flowers regularly to encourage more blooms 

How to Use Borage 
• Add flowers to salads, desserts, or ice cubes 
• Use leaves in teas or cooked dishes (similar to spinach when young) 
• Steep leaves and flowers for a light, refreshing herbal tea 
 
A Quick Note on Use 
Borage is wonderful in small, occasional amounts, especially the flowers. Leaves are best used young and in moderation. 
 
Final Thoughts 
 
Growing Borago officinalis brings color, pollinators, and easy charm to any garden. Whether you’re enhancing your veggie beds, garnishing summer drinks, or simply enjoying their cheerful blooms, borage is a joyful and rewarding addition. 
 
Come visit The Flower Bin to find borage and other garden favorites to brighten your space! 

 

When to Prune Flowering Shrubs: Let Bloom Time Be Your Guide

  

Dormant pruning season is here, and many of us are itching to get out the loppers. But when it comes to flowering shrubs, the calendar isn’t the boss — the buds are. Every shrub carries its bloom schedule in its wood, and once you understand where those flower buds are formed, pruning becomes far less mysterious and far more successful. 

Some shrubs write their floral future the summer before, tucking next year’s blossoms into last year’s wood. Others wait until spring to start fresh. Knowing which story your shrub is telling is the key to pruning at the right time. 

Spring Bloomers: Flower on Old Wood - Prune after they finish blooming 

These shrubs set their flower buds in late summer or fall of the previous year. If you prune them in winter, you’re not “shaping” — you’re removing the very buds that would have bloomed this spring. 

This includes Lilac, Forsythia, Weigela, Ninebark, Early spirea, Flowering quince, many viburnums 

Why wait? By pruning right after they bloom, you give the plant the rest of the growing season to produce new shoots and set next year’s flower buds. 

Front Range note: Our freeze–thaw cycles and dry winter winds often cause tip dieback. Don’t hesitate to remove winter‑killed wood in early spring, even if it means sacrificing a few blooms. Plant health always wins. 

Summer & Fall Bloomers: Flower on New Wood - Prune in late winter or early spring 

These shrubs bloom on the current season’s growth. A late‑winter pruning actually encourages strong new shoots — and more flowers. This includes Panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata), smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens), Butterfly bush, Potentilla, Rose of Sharon, Caryopteris, Russian sage. 

Why prune now? Removing last year’s wood stimulates vigorous new growth, which is exactly where the flowers will appear. 

Front Range note: Because our springs can be unpredictable, pruning now helps these shrubs put their energy into fresh, resilient growth that can handle a late cold snap better than older, stressed wood. 

A Simple Rule of Thumb 

If it blooms before June, it’s almost always blooming on old wood → prune after flowering. If it blooms after June, it’s usually blooming on this year's growth → prune late winter to early spring. 

Pruning doesn’t have to feel like guesswork. Once you know where your shrub keeps its flower buds, you’re no longer cutting blindly — you’re working with the plant’s natural rhythm. And that’s when pruning becomes less of a chore and more of a conversation with the garden.