Borage (Borago officinalis) is commonly recognized as the herb
with the cucumber-like tasting leaves. This is one of my
favorite herbs because it is so dependable for producing lots of color
all summer long. Borage has a sprawling growth habit and should
be given two-foot spacing. Borage, sometimes known as Bee Bread,
is an ornamental annual with a long history. Originally from
Aleppo, this herb is now naturalized in most parts of Europe.
This native to Europe and North Africa is a relative to the anchusas
and mertensias. One of the most profuse wild flowers of Sicily,
it is found growing wild all over the coast of the Mediterranean.
In all the countries bordering the Mediterranean, borage is spelled
with a double ‘r.’
Favored since the time of the ancient Greeks as an old proverb states:
“I, Borage, bring always Courage;” people believed a tea brewed from
borage leaves gave courage as well as favor to the one who drank it.
Ancient Celtic warriors drank wine flavored with borage for courage in
preparation for battle. Henslow suggests that the name is
derived from barrach, a Celtic word meaning "a man of courage".
As Crusaders marched off to battle, their sweethearts bid them adieu
by placing the star-shaped blossom of the borage in the wine cup.
They went forth with courage and vigor, since borage was also reputed
to dispel depressed moods, without side effects.
The Welch called borage "llanwenlys," meaning herb of gladness.
According to Dioscorides and Pliny, borage was the famed nepenthe of
Homer, a herb wine that brought absolute forgetfulness. Pliny
believed the herb to be an anti-depressant and called it euphrosinum.
Dioscorides recommended taking borage to “cheer the heart and lift the
depressed spirits.”
Sir Francis Bacon wrote, “The leaf of Burrage hath an excellent spirit
to repress the fulginous vapour of dusky melancholie.” Flowers
were embroidered on fine medieval tapestries and on scarves for
tournament jousters. They were included in the page borders of
herbals and Books of Hours. John Evelyn, 17th century
herbalist wrote: “Sprigs of Borage are of known virtue to revive the
hypochondriac and cheer the hard student” and Parkinson commends it
"to expel pensiveness and melancholli." It’s Arabic name is
abu-raj, which means "father of sweet."
