Borage ‘Alba’ (White Borage)

Borage ‘Alba’ (White Borage)

A beautiful edible herb with pure white star-shaped flowers loved by bees.

Borage ‘Alba’ produces elegant clusters of pure white, star-shaped flowers that stand out against its soft green foliage. Flowering over a long period through summer, the blooms are rich in nectar and quickly attract bees and other pollinators. The flowers are also edible, making a lovely garnish for salads, summer drinks, and desserts.

This easy, fast-growing annual thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. Borage grows quickly into a relaxed, branching plant and will often self-seed gently in the garden, returning year after year. It works beautifully in wildlife gardens, kitchen gardens, and cottage-style borders where its airy habit weaves naturally amongst other plants.

Specifications

• Height: 60–90 cm

• Spread: 45–60 cm

• Position: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained soil

• Flowering period: June – September

• Hardiness: Hardy annual

• Edible: Flowers and young leaves edible

• Wildlife value: Excellent for bees and pollinators

• Habit: Upright, branching herb

Note for Isle of Wight planting

Borage grows exceptionally well in Isle of Wight gardens, thriving in sunny, free-draining soils and coastal conditions. It’s a fantastic addition to vegetable plots and wildlife-friendly gardens where pollinators are encouraged.

Ideal Companion Plants from The Green Standard Range

• Forget-me-not (Myosotis), early spring flowers that lead beautifully into borage’s summer display

• Calendula, bright edible flowers that thrive in similar sunny conditions

• Nepeta ‘Blue Wonder’, soft mounds of pollinator-friendly flowers that extend the season

• Taunton Deane Kale, borage helps attract pollinators and beneficial insects to productive beds

🌟 The Green Standard Tip

Let a few plants go to seed at the end of the season. Borage often self-seeds happily, giving you fresh plants popping up the following year with almost no effort.