‘Bourrache’

Ref: BORA_BO_OFFI_001

Common Name: Borage / Bourrache / Μπουράντζα

Scientific Name: Borago officinalis

Plant’s cycle: Annual

Light Requirement: Full Sun, Semi Shade

Soil type: fertile, well-drained soils, can grow in nutritionally poor soil

Sowing in nursery: -

Direct Planting: April to Early Summer

Germination: 8 days after sowing

Flowers hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs)

Pollination: pollinated by Bees

Plant is Self-Fertile

Seed preservation: 5 years

Edible Parts:   Leaves; Flowers; Oil.

Medicine:
Antirheumatic;  Demulcent;  Depurative;  Diaphoretic;  Diuretic;  Emollient; Expectorant;  Febrifuge;  Hypotensive;  Lenitive;  Poultice;  Sedative;  Skin;  

Other Uses: Dye;  Oil;  Repellent.

Known Hazards: The plant, but not the oil obtained from the seeds, contains small amounts of pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can cause liver damage and liver cancer. These alkaloids are present in too small a quantity to be harmful unless you make borage a major part of your diet, though people with liver problems would be wise to avoid using the leaves or flowers of this plant.