Skip to content
Borage plant growing in a garden

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Growing Borage

Borage is an effortless annual with striking blue star-shaped flowers. The cucumber-flavored leaves and flowers are edible, and it is a powerful pollinator magnet that self-seeds freely year after year.

Quick Answer: Borage grows in Zones 2a–11b, taking 50–60 days to harvest. It's one of the easiest crops to grow.
🌡️ Zones 2a–11b ☀️ Full Sun 💧 Low Water 🌱 Beginner Friendly 🪴 Container OK (3+ gal) ❄️ Frost Tolerant 🏜️ Drought Tolerant 🐾 Pet Safe

Can You Grow Borage in Your Area?

Growing Tips

Direct sow after last frost — hates transplanting. Self-seeds so aggressively you plant it once and it returns every year. Great companion plant for tomatoes and strawberries. Harvest flowers daily to encourage more blooms.

Where Does Borage Grow?

Borage is suited to Zones 2a–11b. Here are some areas where it thrives:

✅ Zone 2a ✅ Zone 2b ✅ Zone 3a ✅ Zone 3b ✅ Zone 4a ✅ Zone 4b ✅ Zone 5a ✅ Zone 5b ✅ Zone 6a ✅ Zone 6b ✅ Zone 7a ✅ Zone 7b
Won't grow outdoors in: very cold zones (below Zone 2a) . Borage is nearly zone-universal — if you cannot grow it outdoors, start it in a container.

Frequently Asked Questions

Borage grows in USDA Zones 2a–11b.
Yes — Borage is beginner-friendly.
Yes — use a 3+ gallon pot.
Borage is safe for dogs and safe for cats.