Borage is cultivated for its both its ornamental and culinary value. Growing up to a metre tall, this is a great option for ground cover at the back of flower beds and borders. Pollinators love Borage flowers and placing the herb near your fruit and vegetable plants will help attract bees to pollinate crops. Also known as Cool Tankard, Tailwort or Starflower, Borage flowers measure around 2cm and last all season. You’ll begin to see flowers appear in June and they will continue right through until November. The whole plant, including the flowers and stalks, is edible and has a fresh taste, a little like cucumber. Borage leaves are a welcome addition to salads, eggs or cream/yoghurt based dips and complement shellfish well. Stalks can be cooked and eaten, and the flowers make attractive garnishes for drinks and salads. Please Note: When purchasing plants please consider that each live item is unique and may therefore differ from the images shown, which are for illustration purposes only - The plant will be supplied in a growers pot. Depending on season, some plants may be pruned back to encourage growth and deciduous plants may arrive without leaves. Characteristics: A large culinary annual with hairy green leaves, red-purple stems and star shaped bright blue flowers. Growth and Spread: Ultimate height of 0.5 - 1m and spread of up to 0.5m. Care and Maintenance: Borage is easy to grow and doesn’t need a lot of attention to thrive. Place in a sunny or partially shaded spot, in well-drained soil. If planting in a pot or container, make sure it is quite large as this herb doesn’t like to be transplanted. Period of Interest: Leaves emerge in spring and pretty blue flowers blossom from early summer to late autumn. Top Tip: Borage’s hairy leaves become more prickly with time so it’s best to wear gloves and harvest leaves when they’re young.