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Borago officinalis 'Alba' (White borage)
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2 hours care
per year
per year
0.6m
Max height
Max height
0.45m
Max spread
Max spread
1 year
To maturity
To maturity
Plant details
Botanical name
Borago officinalis 'Alba'
Other names
White borage, White tailwort, White cool tankard, White talewort, Borago officinalis 'Bianca'
Genus
Borago Borago
Variety or Cultivar
'Alba' _ 'Alba' is a vigorous, erect, branching annual with coarsely hairy, ovate to lance-shaped, dark grey-green leaves and hollow stems bearing branched cymes of star-shaped, white flowers from midsummer into autumn.
Borago officinalis 'Alba' is: Deciduous
Habit
Clump-forming, Erect, Branching
Flower
White in Summer
Foliage
Dark-green in Spring; Dark-green in Summer; Dark-green in Autumn
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Leaf-mining sawflies , Slugs Leaf-mining sawflies , Slugs
Powdery mildew Powdery mildew
General care
Pruning
Remove faded flower stems or allow to self-seed.
Propagation
Sow seed in situ or by self-seeding.
Propagation methods
Seed
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Where to grow
Borago officinalis 'Alba' (White borage) will reach a height of 0.6m and a spread of 0.45m after 1 year.
Suggested uses
Beds and borders, Bees (attract & feed bees), Cottage/Informal, Wildlife
Cultivation
Grow in any well-drained soil in sun or partial shade. Resents transplanting.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
Companion plants
Borage works well with other herbs and old fashioned roses.
Botanical name
Borago officinalis 'Alba'
Other names
White borage, White tailwort, White cool tankard, White talewort, Borago officinalis 'Bianca'
Genus
Borago Borago
Variety or Cultivar
'Alba' _ 'Alba' is a vigorous, erect, branching annual with coarsely hairy, ovate to lance-shaped, dark grey-green leaves and hollow stems bearing branched cymes of star-shaped, white flowers from midsummer into autumn.
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump-forming, Erect, Branching
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Colour
Flower
White in Summer
Foliage
Dark-green in Spring; Dark-green in Summer; Dark-green in Autumn
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Specific diseases
General care
Pruning
Remove faded flower stems or allow to self-seed.
Propagation
Sow seed in situ or by self-seeding.
Propagation methods
Seed
Monthly care advice
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Where to grow
Borago officinalis 'Alba' (White borage) will reach a height of 0.6m and a spread of 0.45m after 1 year.
Suggested uses
Beds and borders, Bees (attract & feed bees), Cottage/Informal, Wildlife
Cultivation
Grow in any well-drained soil in sun or partial shade. Resents transplanting.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
USDA zones
Zone 9, Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types) | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Partial Shade, Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | South, East, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Exposed, Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Hardy (H4) | Tell us... |
COMPANION PLANTS
Borage works well with other herbs and old fashioned roses.
ARTICLES WITH THIS PLANT
The St John's Hospice have asked renowned herb farmer Jekka McVicar to create a unique RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden entitled; ‘A Modern Apothecary'. The 62 gold medal award winning… read more
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