Borago officinalis ‘Alba’ – White Borage, Alba Borage, White Flowering Borage, White Starflower

Description

Borago officinalis ‘Alba’ is a white-flowering form of the traditional borage plant, an annual herb valued for its edible flowers, attractive foliage, and usefulness in pollinator gardens. The plant typically grows 50 to 90 cm tall with thick, branching stems covered in fine hairs. The leaves are large, rough-textured, and bright green, forming a loose, bushy plant.

Unlike the typical blue-flowered form, this cultivar produces elegant star-shaped white flowers that hang in clusters and are highly attractive to bees and other beneficial insects. The flowers and young leaves have a mild cucumber-like flavor and are commonly used in salads, beverages, desserts, and garnishes. Borage is also valued as a companion plant in vegetable gardens because it attracts pollinators and beneficial insects.

This species grows best in full sun and well-drained soil and is easy to cultivate. It readily self-seeds under favorable conditions and can naturalize in garden beds.

Sow seeds directly outdoors in early to mid-spring after the danger of frost has passed. In mild climates, seeds can also be sown in autumn for earlier spring flowering. Seeds germinate best when soil temperatures are between 18°C to 24°C.