A Pretty Blue Flower Can Wreak Havoc In Gardens - Here's How To Control It

Borage (Borago officinalis) is a gorgeous, blue flowering herb that self-seeds profusely. That's great news if you like it because you probably won't ever have to plant it again. But because of its fast growth and spreading tendency, you may want to consider where you'll grow this annual and whether you want to grow it at all; read on for more on this issue. 

The borage plant, which has Mediterranean origins, has a unique look that brings color, texture, and shape to your garden. Bright blue, star-shaped blooms hover delicately above hairy, red-purple stems and buds. Several parts of borage are edible. The leaves can be used in salads, but pick them when they're young, before they get hairy. Both leaves and flowers taste like cucumber. Use the flowers as a delightful garnish or freeze them into ice cubes for a striking statement in beverages. Borage, also known as starflower, bee bush, bee bread, and bugloss, has a long history as a medicinal herb, as well.

Despite its talent for self-seeding, borage is considered only potentially invasive and doesn't appear on noxious-weed lists. It has been known, however, to displace native plant habitats. As soon as borage seeds mature, they drop to the ground and will grow right where they landed. Thanks to shallow roots, borage can best be controlled by simply pulling or digging it out. Move unwanted borage to another spot or toss it in your compost. 

Confining borage to containers is the clever way to keep plants from spreading in your garden. Bonus: You'll be meeting pollinator needs and the needs of other plants by moving the containers to spots in the garden that would benefit from borage's ability to attract pollinators. You can also DIY a topiary planter to control fast-spreading herbs like borage.

Borage has a few other downsides. Borage does not transplant easily. A bit like a gangly and unsteady teenager undergoing a growth spurt, borage can grow to 3 feet tall and have a droopy appearance; it can even topple over. Borage seeds are mildly toxic, and their oil can cause bloating and headaches. If you were to eat a steady diet of borage, the pyrrolizidine alkaloids in the plant can result in liver damage or even cancer.

Before you dismiss borage for its spreading and seed-shedding habits, consider its attributes. You can draw pollinators to your yard with this easy-to-grow annual herb, and bees especially love it. Borage has a long bloom time to begin with, but you can also encourage even more blooms by cutting it back. Keep your garden gloves handy if the prickly hair on the stems bother you. 

The herb doesn't need good soil to thrive, and it has minimal pest and disease issues. Borage also suppresses weeds as it grows. This cheery plant can serve as a flowering ground cover that will help your fruit trees thrive in the garden, thanks to its ability to attract pollinators and beneficial insects. Gardeners plant borage next to their cucumbers for the same reason, especially because cukes won't form without pollination.

Sold on borage? It's easy to grow and is hardy in USDA Hardiness zones 3 to 10. In March or April, sow seeds in a spot with full or partial sun, spaced so they accommodate the expected 2-foot width of the mature plant, as well as the likelihood that more borage plants will pop up as a result of seed drop. Cover with a layer of compost, and water generously until plants emerge, and then provide irrigation when the soil is dry. Give it a monthly half-dose of balanced organic fertilizer. Keep an eye on your borage plants for when the seeds mature and start to drop. You can collect them at this point if you don't want more borage in that spot.