Borage

Borage (Borago officinalis) is an annual herb. It is native to the Western Mediterranean Region and Portugal. Borage was widely grown in antiquity. Its names in Greek (bouglōssos) and Latin (buglossa) mean ox-tongue, which is a reference to the shape of the leaves.

The following remark of Pliny most probably refers to borage, “the main peculiarity of this plant is, that if put into wine, it promotes mirth and hilarity, whereas it has obtained the additional name of euphrosynum [ promoting cheerfulness]”. See “Origin and History of Our Garden Vegetables and Their Dietetic Values. VI. –Kitchen Herbs”, Rev. Professor Geo. Henslow, M.A., F.L.S., V.M.H, Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society, volume 37, part III (March 1, 1912), pages 525-530, specifically page 526.

Gerard (1597) observed that “Those of our time do use the flowers in salad to exhilarate and make the mind glad, to the comfort of the heart and driving away sorrows.” Borage is one of the “four cordial flowers”. (The others are rose, violet, and alkanet. See “Flowers in Cookery, Their Old-Time Use”, Martha Bockée Flint, The American Kitchen Magazine, volume IX, number 4 (July 1898), page 126. In the Victorian language of flowers borage represents bluntness.

Borage can be grown without difficulty in most herb gardens. Next summer, consider promoting conviviality with a glass of white wine graced with a borage flower.

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