BorageBorage is known for its “starflower” blooms, it originates in Syria, where, it has been known as culinary herb. Its fame spread all over the Mediterranean, Europe, Asia Minor, and South America. A free-seeding annual herb, the plant can easily grow with blooms of star shapes and of different shades such as blue, pink, and white. Culinary Uses The flowers are edible and would be a great add-on to salads. They are also used to display on summer drinks. Its leaves are known to have the flavor of cucumbers & delicate aroma. Its stems are succulent, thick, and soft. The whole plant itself is covered with bristle hairs. Although it is an herb, it is mostly planted in a garden vegetable as an excellent companion plant for tomatoes, strawberries, and squash. Pollinate plants Repel Insects It can even repel tomato hornworms & enhance the flavor of tomatoes. The herb attracts pollinating bees as well. The climate it prefers is milder, where, it is certain the plant blooms continuously throughout the year. The modern cultivation of is for its oilseed. However, in the past, it was planted especially for culinary & medicinal uses. Because it has the taste of cucumber, it is used as a fresh vegetable, garnish, or salad ingredient. Its flower tastes like honey and is often used to adorn desserts. In Germany, some parts of Liguria, and Greek island of Crete, the herb as vegetable is very common. One famous German recipe is the Green Sauce made in Frankfurt. In Italian Liguria, the vegetable is used as filling of traditional pastas such as the pansoti & ravioli. In medicines, practitioners of naturapathy use borage oil to regulate the metabolism and hormonal system of a person. Among women, the plant is considered good for PMS relief. It can also relieve menopausal symptoms like hot flash. There were times, when the oil is used to improve the conditions of colds, bronchitis, and respiratory infections as it has anti-inflammatory and balsamic properties. Borage Oil Benefits Meanwhile, its seeds are the source for oil, which is favorable for its gamma-linolenic acid content with 17-28%, the highest content among plants. The oil too has other contents such as palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, lonoleic acid, eruci acid, eicosenoic acid, and nervonic acid. The oil itself is sold in the market as “starflower oil” or “borage oil” for supplement of GLA. Planting The Herb Planting borage is not difficult. Once it is controlled in your garden, it can seed out easily. You only have to find a sunny spot in the garden, and bury the seeds in cluster. Due to it scruffy-looking leaves, most gardeners cultivate the herb at the back portion of the garden with other plants covering the lower portion of of the plant. _________________________________________________________________ Top of Borage Listed under Growing Herbs |