Borago officinalis 'Alba'

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Herbaceous Perennial
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A vigorous, upright, branching annual with hairy oval to lance-shaped dark grey to green leaves. Star-shaped white flowers appear on hollow stems from midsummer through to the autumn

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
1 year
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
West–facing or South–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H5

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Boraginaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump forming, Columnar upright
Genus
Borago can be annuals or perennials, with coarsely hairy stems and simple leaves, with branched cymes of blue flowers
Name Status
Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Easy to grow in any reasonably drained soil in sun or partial shade. Dislikes transplanting

Propagation

Propagate by seed

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Wildflower meadow
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Leave to self-seed after flowering

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs and leaf-mining flies

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews