White Borage blooms in teal teacup with borage tea on a white background.
A close-up of White Borage flowers on light blue background.
Close-up of the white borage blooms.
White Borage blooms in teal teacup with borage tea on a white background.
A close-up of White Borage flowers on light blue background.
Close-up of the white borage blooms.

Borage Seeds,
White

3.711 ReviewsSKU: #HB299Min. seed count: 30
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Description

Meet blue borage’s rare white-flowered sister! The edible alabaster blooms of white borage impart a subtly sweet cucumber flavor and are irresistible to pollinators! This annual herb can be grown in USDA zones 3-9 and reach 2 to 3 feet tall. The young leaves and blooms are edible; leaves are perfect cooked like spinach, and the blossoms make an incredible tea or edible flower for garnish. Interplant throughout your garden to encourage beneficial insects and entice pollinators to work your other blooms! Warning: This plant is toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.

Growing Tips: Direct sow as soon as soil can be worked. Succession plant for longer blooming season. Frequently reseeds itself year after year.

Plant Details

Botanical Name
Borago officinalis 'Bianca'
Life Cycle
Annual
Sun Requirement
6–12 hr.
Days to Germinate
7–14
Days to Maturity
50–60
Planting Depth
¼–½ in.
Plant Spacing
12 in.
Ideal Temperature
60–80°F
Frost Hardy
Yes

When to Grow

White borage goes straight into the ground where you want it to stand: direct sow as soon as the soil can be worked, ¼ to ½ inch deep and 12 inches apart, in a bed with 6 to 12 hours of sun. At 60–80°F seedlings appear in 7 to 14 days, and plants are ready to cut in 50 to 60 days, eventually making a 2- to 3-foot bush of alabaster bloom. Rather than massing it in one corner, tuck a few plants through the vegetable garden — the white flowers pull pollinators in to work your other crops. This frost-hardy annual reseeds itself year after year.

How to Sow and Plant

  • Seeds germinate in 7-14 days.
  • Plant 1/4- 1/2 inch deep, 12 " apart.
  • Plants need 6-12 hours of sun per day.
  • Ideal germination temperature is 60-80 F.

How to Grow

  • Direct sow as soon as soil can be worked.
  • Succession plant for longer blooming season.
  • Frequently reseeds itself year after year.
  • Annual to 2 ft.

PESTS/SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

  • Damping off and powdery mildew are some of the most common problems and are caused by a fungus. Avoid this by not over watering and giving the plants good circulation.
  • For aphids, introduce or attract predators like lady beetles and wasps into the garden.
  • Sometimes a strong spray or an insecticidal soap will work.

How to Save Seeds

  • Readily self seeds.
  • Harvest the large seeds when they are fully ripe. The flower will fade, and hang upside down. They will ripen from green to brown.
  • When the tips of the buds and where they attach to the stalk start turning brown and yellow, allow the seeds to continue to ripen.
  • Place on a plate and leave seeds in the bud to dry; they will start to fall out by themselves.
  • You can shake into a cup to encourage them to fall out.

FAQ

How is white borage different from the familiar blue kind?

It is blue borage's rare white-flowered sister. The edible alabaster blooms impart a subtly sweet cucumber flavor, and plants reach 2 to 3 feet tall.

How do I use the leaves and flowers in the kitchen?

The young leaves and blooms are both edible. Leaves are perfect cooked like spinach, and the blossoms make an incredible tea or edible flower for garnish.

Where should I plant it to help the rest of the garden?

Interplant it throughout your garden. The blooms are irresistible to pollinators and encourage beneficial insects, enticing pollinators to work your other flowers as well. Note that this plant is toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.
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