Seasonal Wild Flowers

Borage

Borago officinalis

Boraginaceae

May to September

It is scattered throughout the country , but is more

common in the South and East.

See the BSBI distribution map for Borage

It is widely grown in gardens and allotments and used

to be a crop. It is a neophyte, which has been grown in

the UK since the 1200s, but was not recorded as a

naturalised escape until the 1770s.

The escape grows on wasteland.

Borage is a robust, hairy, annual herb growing up to 60cm.

The flowers are in trusses and are a stunningly bright blue.

The flower is 2cm across with 5 petals.

The petals recurve to expose a purple-black spike of

stamens.

The stamen filaments protrude beyond the blue, purple or

black anthers.

The style is inside the tube of stamens and is not visible.

Leaves are pointed, wavy ovals, soft and hairy.

Borage is planted as a source of nectar for bees.

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Borage in rough grassland

Flower truss

Flowers - from above, pink sepals

Flower - side view

Stamen filaments longer than the anthers

Leaf insertion

Leaf shape