Also known as a starflower, borage is an herb notable for its vibrant purple flowers and its medicinal properties. It is an annual plant with branching stems that usually reach a height of about twenty-five inches. It has edible leaves and flowers and can be processed into an oil, soft gels or can be used in herbal tea. Studies have shown that borage can be used to help alleviate inflammation, reduce symptoms of asthma and improve skin health. Borage grows best in full sun to partial shade. This will give borage with the most flowers and the stockiest plants. At Healthy Oilseeds, borage was the first crop that we exported. It also contains the highest source of gamma linolenic acid which is very common in its use to help with conditions that affect the skin including systemic sclerosis, psoriasis and eczema. Claims have also been made that borage, when planted close to a tomato plant, can improve the growth and taste of the tomatoes. Now, many beekeepers plant borage and create bee pastures for bees to enjoy. The pollen makes a great honey and the bees have been seen to love it. Borage is known as a honey plant and can be seen to be blooming by apiaries to provide food for the development of the bees and for honey collection as well.
Healthy Oilseeds produces and sells borage seeds and borage oil which can be used both internally and externally.