Borage Companion Plants: Boosting Your Garden's Health

If you're an avid gardener, you know that companion planting is a great way to improve your garden's health and yield. By planting certain plants together, you can create a mutually beneficial relationship that helps keep pests away, improves soil quality, and enhances growth. One plant that is particularly effective as a companion plant is borage. Not only does it have a beautiful flower, but it also has several benefits for the plants that grow near it. In this blog post, we'll explore the best borage companion plants and how they can work together to create a healthy garden ecosystem.

The Benefits of Borage Companion Planting

Before we dive into the best borage companion plants, let's take a closer look at why borage is such a great plant to grow alongside other plants in your garden. Here are some benefits of borage companion planting:

Improves Soil Quality

Borage is a dynamic accumulator, meaning it absorbs nutrients from the soil and stores them in its tissues. When the plant dies or decomposes, these nutrients are released back into the soil, making it richer and more fertile. By growing borage alongside other plants, you can improve the soil quality and enhance the growth of your other crops.

Attracts Beneficial Insects

Borage is a great plant for attracting beneficial insects like bees, hoverflies, and parasitic wasps. These insects help to pollinate your plants, control pests, and improve the overall health of your garden ecosystem. By growing borage near your other crops, you can create a natural habitat for these helpful insects.

Repels Pests

Borage is also known to repel certain pests like tomato hornworms and cabbage worms. By planting borage near susceptible plants, you can reduce the risk of pest infestations and keep your crops healthy.

The Best Borage Companion Plants

Tomatoes

Tomatoes and borage make great companions in the garden. Borage attracts pollinators like bees and hoverflies, which help to pollinate tomato flowers and improve yield. It also repels tomato hornworms, which are a common pest that can damage tomato plants. Tomatoes benefit from borage's dynamic accumulator qualities as well, as it helps to improve soil quality and fertility.

How to Plant:

Plant borage around the edges of your tomato bed or interspersed between tomato plants. Make sure to give them adequate space to grow, as both plants can get quite large.

Strawberries

Strawberries and borage are another great pairing. Borage attracts bees and other pollinators, which can improve strawberry yield. It also repels pests like slugs and snails, which can be a common problem for strawberry growers.

How to Plant:

Plant borage around the edges of your strawberry patch or interspersed between strawberry plants. Make sure to give them adequate space to grow, as both plants can get quite large.

Cucumbers

Cucumbers and borage have a long history of being planted together. Borage attracts pollinators like bees and improves soil quality, while cucumbers benefit from borage's pest-repelling qualities.

How to Plant:

Plant borage around the edges of your cucumber bed or interspersed between cucumber plants. Make sure to give them adequate space to grow, as both plants can get quite large.

Squash

Squash and borage are another great pairing in the garden. Borage attracts pollinators like bees and hoverflies, which can improve squash yield. It also repels pests like squash bugs and cucumber beetles, which can be a common problem for squash growers.

How to Plant:

Plant borage around the edges of your squash bed or interspersed between squash plants. Make sure to give them adequate space to grow, as both plants can get quite large.

Beans

Beans and borage make great companions in the garden. Borage attracts pollinators like bees and hoverflies, which can improve bean yield. It also helps to improve soil quality and repel certain pests like bean beetles.

How to Plant:

Plant borage around the edges of your bean bed or interspersed between bean plants. Make sure to give them adequate space to grow, as both plants can get quite large.

FAQs about Borage Companion Plants

1. How do I plant borage?

Borage is an easy plant to grow from seed. Sow seeds directly into the ground in early spring, after the last frost has passed. Borage prefers full sun but can tolerate some shade. Make sure to give them plenty of space to grow, as they can get quite large.

2. Is borage safe to eat?

Yes, borage is safe to eat. The leaves and flowers have a mild cucumber flavor and can be used in salads, soups, and other dishes. Borage is also commonly used to make herbal tea.

3. Can borage companion planting work for all types of plants?

While borage is a versatile plant that can grow alongside many different types of plants, it may not be beneficial for every crop. Some plants may have specific needs or requirements that are not compatible with borage's growth habits.

4. How often should I water borage?

Borage prefers well-draining soil and does not like to be waterlogged. Water the plant deeply once a week or as needed, depending on the weather and soil conditions.

5. Can borage companion planting reduce the need for pesticides?

Yes, borage companion planting can help to reduce the need for pesticides by attracting beneficial insects and repelling pests. However, it is still important to monitor your plants for signs of pest infestations and take appropriate action if necessary.


Borage is an excellent plant for companion planting, thanks to its dynamic accumulator qualities, pest-repelling abilities, and pollinator-attracting properties. By planting borage alongside other crops in your garden, you can create a healthy ecosystem that benefits all the plants involved. So why not give borage companion planting a try? Your garden (and taste buds) will thank you!