Borage Companion Plants
Flower60 days to maturity
Borage is a fast-growing annual herb with bristly leaves and brilliant blue, star-shaped flowers that bees cannot resist. It is one of the garden's premier pollinator magnets, refills its nectar quickly, and is reputed to deter tomato hornworms and cabbage worms while its deep roots draw up trace minerals.
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Companion Planting Strategy for Borage
Borage earns its reputation as a companion by flooding the garden with bees for better fruit set and by hosting predatory insects that hunt caterpillars and aphids. Plant it near tomatoes, squash, and strawberries to boost pollination, deter chewing pests, and enrich the surrounding soil.
Best Companion Plants for Borage
These plants grow well alongside Borage — providing pest control, attracting pollinators, or making better use of your garden space.
Borage is said to repel tomato hornworms and its abundant flowers draw the pollinators and predators that improve tomato set and pest control.
Borage's nectar-rich blooms pull in bees that pollinate squash's separate male and female flowers, improving fruit set.
Borage attracts pollinators to strawberry blossoms and is traditionally believed to improve berry flavor and vigor while deterring pests.
How to Grow Borage
- Botanical name
- Borago officinalis
- Family
- Borage (Boraginaceae)
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- About 1 inch per week; drought tolerant once established
- Soil
- Average, well-draining soil, pH 6.0-7.0; tolerates poor ground
- Spacing
- 12-18 inches apart, as plants reach 2-3 feet wide
- Planting depth
- Sow seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep
- Germination
- 5-15 days at about 70F
- Days to maturity
- About 8 weeks (around 55 days) from seed to bloom
- When to plant
- Direct sow after the last spring frost once soil has warmed; succession sow for continuous bloom
- Harvest
- Pick young leaves and flowers as needed; blooms early summer to frost and self-seeds readily
Common Borage Problems
Aphids clustering on stems and flower buds
Borage tolerates light infestations and draws predators; hose off heavy clusters or spray insecticidal soap on the worst shoots.
Powdery mildew (white film on leaves late in the season)
Improve spacing and airflow, water at the base, and remove affected leaves; older plants can simply be pulled once they decline.
Aggressive self-seeding and floppy, sprawling growth
Deadhead before seeds drop to control spread, and stake or cut back top-heavy plants; pull unwanted volunteers while young.
Japanese beetles and leaf miners chewing or tunneling foliage
Hand-pick beetles into soapy water in the morning and remove and destroy mined leaves to break the cycle.
Borage Companion Planting FAQ
What are the best companion plants for borage?
Borage is an excellent companion for tomatoes, squash, and strawberries, where it boosts pollination and is said to deter hornworms and cabbage worms. It also benefits most fruiting vegetables and brassicas by attracting bees and predatory insects.
What should you not plant with borage?
Borage has no real plant enemies, but it grows large and self-seeds aggressively, so keep it away from small, slow seedlings it could shade out. Give it room at a bed's edge rather than crowding it among delicate crops.
Does borage really improve tomato and strawberry flavor?
The flavor claim is traditional folklore rather than proven science, but borage's real value is well documented: it brings in pollinators and predatory insects that improve fruit set and reduce pests. That alone makes it worth planting near tomatoes and strawberries.
Can you eat borage?
Yes, the young leaves and flowers are edible with a mild cucumber flavor, and the blue blooms are a popular garnish. Eat it in moderation, since the leaves contain trace pyrrolizidine alkaloids that are best not consumed in large quantities.
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Plan Your Borage Garden
Use our interactive tools to design the perfect garden with Borage and its companions.