Edible Plants of the World

Borage

Borage

They can grow in full sun or light shade. They do best in a fairly rich, moist, well drained soil. In the tropics it can be grown in mountain regions. In Hobart Botanical gardens. It suits hardiness zones 5-10.

Also known as:

Bee bread, Boragine, Boretse, Boratsino, Borraga, Borrainas, Borraja, Bou cassal, Bou chenaf, Boukhrich, Bou krich, Bourrache, Bugloss, Burraccelle, Buragine, Cool-tankard, Foudelggem, Gabbuina, Harcha, Iles ouaral, Ligabuinna, Star Flower, Talewort, Tament, Tizizoua, Vurraine, Zdravilna boraga

Edible Portion

Where does Borage grow?

Found in: Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Brazil, Britain, Canada, Chile, China, Condo DR, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, East Africa, Europe, France, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Lebanon, Libya, Macedonia, Mediterranean, Morocco, New Zealand, North Africa, North America, Pacific, Philippines, Portugal, SE Asia, Serbia, Sicily, Slovenia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Switzerland, Syria, Tasmania, Tunisia, Turkey, Uruguay, United States, Zimbabwe

Notes: There are 3 Borago species.

Status: It is a commercially cultivated vegetable.

Growing Borage

Cultivation: It is grown from seed. Seed are sown 12 mm deep. The taproot is easily damaged in transplanting. Plants drop seed easily and become self sown.

Edible Uses: The flowers and leaves are used to flavour liqueurs and summer drinks. The flowers are also sucked. The young leaves can be used in salads. They have a cucumber like flavour. They are also fried in batter. They are also stuffed like grape leaves. The older leaves are boiled and used in soups. They are also added to omelettes. They are used in pickles. CAUTION: It may not be wise to eat large amounts over a long time due to Pyrrolizidine alkaloids.

Production: It grows quickly. The leaves are normally used fresh. They can be used dried but must be dried quickly in a dry well ventilated place.

Nutrition Info

per 100g edible portion

Edible Part Energy (kcal) Protein (g) Iron (mg) Vitamin A (ug) Vitamin c (mg) Zinc (mg) % Water
Leaves - raw 21 1.8 3.3 420 35 0.2 93
Leaves - cooked 25 2.1 3.6 438 32.5 0.2 92
Flowers - - - - - -

Borage Photos

Borage Borage Borage Borage Borage

References

Abbet, C., et al, 2014, Ethnobotanical survey on wild alpine food plants in Lower and Central Valais (Switzerland). Journal of Ethnopharmacology 151 (2014) 624–634

Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 77

Ben Ismail, H., 2013, Edible Wild Vegetables Used in North West of Tunisia. PARIPEX - Indian Journal of Reearch 2(9) :219-221

Bianchini, F., Corbetta, F., and Pistoia, M., 1975, Fruits of the Earth. Cassell. p 58

Bircher, A. G. & Bircher, W. H., 2000, Encyclopedia of Fruit Trees and Edible Flowering Plants in Egypt and the Subtropics. AUC Press. p 61

Biscotti, N. & Pieroni, A., 2015, The hidden Mediterranean diet: wild vegetables traditionally gathered and consumed in the Gargano area, Apulia, SE Italy. Acta Societatis Botanicorum Poloniae 84 (3): 327-338

Biscotti, N. et al, 2018, The traditional food use of wild vegetables in Apulia (Italy) in the light of Italian ethnobotanical literature. Italian Botanist 5:1-24

Blamey, M and Grey-Wilson, C., 2005, Wild flowers of the Mediterranean. A & C Black London. p 191

Blanco-Salas, J., et al, 2019, Wild Plants Potentially Used in Human Food in the Protected Area “Sierra Grande de Hornachos” of Extremadura (Spain). Sustainability 2019, 11, 456

Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 154

Bonet, M. A. & Valles, J., 2002, Use of non-crop food vascular plants in Montseny biosphere reserve (Catalonia, Iberian Peninsula). International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition (2002) 53, 225–248

BOUQUET,

Bremness, L., 1994, Herbs. Collins Eyewitness Handbooks. Harper Collins. p 233

Brickell, C. (Ed.), 1999, The Royal Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. Convent Garden Books. p 183

Brown, D., 2002, The Royal Horticultural Society encyclopedia of Herbs and their uses. DK Books. p 145

Burnie, G & Fenton-Smith, J., 1999, A Grower's Guide to Herbs. Murdoch Books. p 17

Burnie, G. (Ed.), 2003, Annuals and Bulbs. The Gardener's Handbooks. Fog City Press. p 126

Cheifetz, A., (ed), 1999, 500 popular vegetables, herbs, fruits and nuts for Australian Gardeners. Random House p 118

Cordero, S. E., Abello, L. A., & Galvez, F. L., 2017, Plantas silvestres comestibles y medicinales de Chile y otras partes del mundo. CORMA p 150

Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 242

Curtis, W.M., 1993, The Student's Flora of Tasmania. Part 3 St David's Park Publishing, Tasmania, p 490

Della, A., et al, 2006, An ethnobotanical survey of wild edible plants of Paphos and Larnaca countryside of Cyprus. J. Ethnobiol. Ethnomed. 2:34

Ertug, F, Yenen Bitkiler. Resimli Türkiye Florası -I- Flora of Turkey - Ethnobotany supplement

Esperanca, M. J., 1988. Surviving in the wild. A glance at the wild plants and their uses. Vol. 1. p 134

Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 51

Gonzalez, J. A., et al, 2011, The consumption of wild and semi-domesticated edible plants in the Arribes del Duero (Salamanca-Zamora, Spain): an analysis of traditional knowledge. Genetic. Resour Crop Evolution 58:991-1006

Hadfield, J., 2001, The A-Z of Vegetable Gardening in South Africa. Struik p 134

Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 109

Hermandez Bermejo, J.E., and Leon, J. (Eds.), 1994, Neglected Crops. 1492 from a different perspective. FAO Plant Production and Protection Series No 26. FAO, Rome. p 314

Hussey, B.M.J., Keighery, G.J., Cousens, R.D., Dodd, J., Lloyd, S.G., 1997, Western Weeds. A guide to the weeds of Western Australia. Plant Protection Society of Western Australia. p 112

Irving, M., 2009, The Forager Handbook, A Guide to the Edible Plants of Britain. Ebury Press p 66

Hadjichambis, A. C., et al, 2007, Wild and semi-domesticated food plant consumption in seven circum-Mediterranean areas. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition. 2007, 1-32.

Jardin, C., 1970, List of Foods Used In Africa, FAO Nutrition Information Document Series No 2.p 60

Karhagomba, I. B., et al, 2013, The cultivation of wild food and medicinal plants for improving community livelihood: The case of the Buhozi site, DR Congo. Nutrition Research and Practice (Nutr Res Pract) 2013;7(6):510-518

Kays, S. J., and Dias, J. C. S., 1995, Common Names of Commercially Cultivated Vegetables of the World in 15 languages. Economic Botany, Vol. 49, No. 2, pp. 115-152

Kiple, K.F. & Ornelas, K.C., (eds), 2000, The Cambridge World History of Food. CUP p 432, 1736

Kybal, J., 1980, Herbs and Spices, A Hamlyn Colour Guide, Hamlyn Sydney p 56

Lamp, C & Collet F., 1989, Field Guide to Weeds in Australia. Inkata Press. p 37

Lazarides, M. & Hince, B., 1993, Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia, CSIRO. p 34

Licata, M., et al, 2016, A survey of wild plant species for food use in Sicily (Italy) – results of a 3-year study in four Regional Parks. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 12:12

Luczaj et al, 2013, Wild vegetable mixes sold in the markets of Dalmatia (southern Croatia). Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 8:2

Malezas Comestibles del Cono Sur, INTA, 2009, Buernos Aires

Martin, F.W. & Ruberte, R.M., 1979, Edible Leaves of the Tropics. Antillian College Press, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. p 179

Michael, P., 2007, Edible Wild Plants and Herbs. Grub Street. London. p 34

Morley, B. & Everard, B., 1970, Wild Flowers of the World. Ebury press. Plate 37

Motti, R. et al, 2009, Traditional Plant Use in the Phlegraean Fields Regional Park (Campania, Southern Italy). Human Ecology 37:775-782

Nassif, F., & Tanji, A., 2013, Gathered food plants in Morocco: The long forgotten species in Ethnobotanical Research. Life Science Leaflets 3:17-54

Nebel, S., Pieroni, A. & Heinrich, M., 2006, Ta cho`rta: Wild edible greens used in the Graecanic area in Calabria, Southern Italy. Appetite 47 (2006) 333–342

Paczkowska, G. & Chapman, A.R., 2000, The Western Australian Flora. A Descriptive Catalogue. Western Australian Herbarium. p 181

Pieroni, A., 1999, Gathered wild food plants in the Upper Valley of the Serchio River (Garfagnana), Central Italy. Economic Botany 53(3) pp 327-341

Pieroni, A., 2001, Evaluation of the Cultural Significance of Wild Food Botanicals traditionally Consumed in Northwestern Tuscany, Italy, Journal of Ethnobiology 21(1):89-104

Pieroni, A., et al, 2005, Food for two seasons: Culinary uses of non-cultivated local vegetables and mushrooms in a south Italian village. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 56(4): 245􏰣-272

Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/

PROSEA handbook Volume 13 Spices. p 248

Rigat, M et al, 2009, Ethnobotany of Food Plants in the High River Ter Valley (Pyrenees, catalonia, Iberian Peninsula): Non-Crop Food Vascular Plants and Crop Food Plants with medicinal Properties. Ecology of Food and Nutrition, 48:303-327

Ruiters-Welcome, A. K., 2019, Food plants of southern Africa. Ph.D. thesis. Univ. of Johannesburg p 38

Sansanelli, S., et al, 2014, Wild food plants traditionall consumed in the area of Bologna (Emilia Romagna region, Italy). Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 10:69

Seidemann J., 2005, World Spice Plants. Economic Usage, Botany, Taxonomy. Springer. p 68

Simkova, K. et al, 2014, Ethnobotanical review of wild edible plants used in the Czech Republic. Journal of Applied Botany and Food Quality 88, 49-67

Sinclair, V., 1992, The Floral Charm of Cyprus. Interworld Publications. p 43

Skinner, G. & Brown, C., 1981, Simply Living. A gatherer's guide to New Zealand's fields, forests and shores. Reed. p 43

Sp. pl. 1:137. 1753

Tardio, J., et al, 2006, Ethnobotanical review of wild edible plants in Spain. Botanical J. Linnean Soc. 152, 27-71

Tasmanian Herbarium Vascular Plants list p 16

van Wyk, B., 2005, Food Plants of the World. An illustrated guide. Timber press. p 93

World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

www.ediblewildfood.com