The reason for its popularity among pollinators, is quite simply that borage provides lots of nectar and pollen. Scientists have even quantified how much this plant provides, and which pollinators benefit.
Is borage honey good?
Our Borage honey is delicious and distinctive. It has subtle flavours and is mouth-wateringly smooth. It is a beautiful light colour brought to us by bees that feed on British borage (also known as starflowers). Borage honey is a pure real honey created from bees that feed on this pretty blue flower.
What plant produces the most nectar?
Flowers, crops, herbs, and grasses
| Plant type | Common name | Nectar production |
|---|---|---|
| F | Milkweed | major – 120–250 lb/acre, depending on soil and if good fertilization, Asclepias syriaca has the highest honey yield. |
| F | Butterfly weed | minor |
| C | Asparagus | minor |
| F | Milk vetch | minor |
How do you make honey borage?
Borage honey is a monofloral (or unifloral) honey with a delicate flavour. It is pale golden in colour, runny and is slow to granulate1. To make it, beekeepers take their beehives to borage fields, where their bees can gather the rich abundance of nectar secreted by the many flowers gracing each plant.
What part of the borage plant can you eat?
Both the leaves and flowers of the plant are edible and commonly used as a garnish, dried herb, or vegetable in a variety of drinks and dishes. The leaves are sometimes also ground up and steeped in hot water to brew herbal tea.
Do bees like borage?
Borage is an amazing plant for bees. It’s an annual herb worthy of any garden, the pretty blue flowers are great for summer drinks and the young borage leaves add texture to a salad. The flowers replenish their nectaries regularly and are a magnet for honeybees all summer.
What does borage honey taste like?
Borage honey tastes exquisite. It is sweet, sharp and delicate, with notes of lemon and orange. Try it… in marinades and dressings. Borage honey is also often used as a sweetener for tea and coffee or to replace the sugar in baking recipes.
What flower has the sweetest nectar?
1. Borage. Also known as a starflower thanks to its attractive star-shaped blue flowers that are beloved by both people and pollinating insects alike, borage provides ample sweet nectar, which is perfect for bees.
Which plants are rich in nectar?
Try these nectar-rich flowers to keep hummingbirds, bees and other pollinators coming to your yard.
- 01 of 10. Torch Lily. Torch lilies (Kniphofia spp.)
- 02 of 10. Bee Balm.
- 03 of 10. Lavender.
- 04 of 10. Spider Flower.
- 05 of 10. Salvia.
- 06 of 10. Catmint.
- 07 of 10. Beardtongue.
- 08 of 10. Fuschia.
What flower makes the sweetest honey?
Some of the plants that are most attractive to bees and produce high quality honey are the flowers of blackberries, fruit and citrus trees, herbs (like rosemary, borage and sage), flowering bushes, clover and other wild flowers and, in the case of Monte-Bellaria, lavender.
Does borage attract honey bees?
A historic medicinal herb, Borage (Borago officinalis), is a Mediterranean annual also known as starflower, bee bush, bee bread, and bugloss. It’s not only a favorite plant of honey bees, but also attracts bumble bees and small, native bees.
Is borage invasive?
Borage is often referred to as invasive because of its rampant self-seeding habit. However, the seedlings are easy to identify and remove so it rarely becomes a major problem. Borage leaves and flowers are edible and have a cucumber flavor.
Is borage a pollinator plant?
It’s easy to see why borage is also called ‘bee bread’. Bees, hummingbirds, and other pollinators flock to this plant that is so rich in nectar. Pro Tip: Grow this triple combo for superb pollination: Borage, bee balm, and comfrey.
Why do farmers grow borage?
One of the main reasons for planting Borage here at Hillfarm is to boost our population of bees, and help them to make our delicious hillfarm honey. Bees absolutely love Borage, and when the flowers bloom they will start collecting the pollen.
Are borage leaves toxic?
Borage seed oil is LIKELY UNSAFE when products containing a dangerous chemicals called pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are taken by mouth. Borage plant parts including the leaf, flower, and seed can contain PAs. PAs can damage the liver or cause cancer, especially when used in high doses or for a long time.
Can you eat borage leaves Raw?
Borage leaves are best suited for cooked applications such as boiling and stewing. It is not recommended to consume raw, mature leaves as they may contain prickles which could cause irritation. Young, tender leaves without the presence of prickles may be used to flavor salads or used as a garnish.
What is borage good for in the garden?
In the garden, the uses of borage include repelling pests such as hornworms, attracting pollinators, and aiding any plants it is interplanted with by increasing resistance to pests and disease. It is also helpful to, and compatible with, most plants — notably tomatoes, strawberries and squash.
Is borage a good cover crop?
Borage grows quickly in early spring and has wide leaves, so it can act like a living mulch. These wide leaves cover the bare ground, protecting it from runoff and erosion where frequent spring rains might otherwise wash the soil away.
Will borage come back every year?
While not as common as thyme or basil, borage herb (Borago officinalis) is a unique plant for the culinary garden. It grows quickly as an annual but will colonize a corner of the garden by self-seeding and reappearing year after year.
Who should not take Manuka honey?
Manuka honey is exclusively from New Zealand and boasts more medicinal properties than other honey. Manuka honey may treat inflammatory skin conditions, heal wounds, and improve oral health. Do not use manuka honey if you have diabetes, an allergy to bees, or are under the age of one.
What does borage flower taste like?
Blue borage flowers are star-shaped, vibrant blooms that add beauty to the plate, along with a mild cucumber flavor that some describe as a sweet honey taste. It’s also mildly salty. The texture of these gorgeous edible flowers is delicate with very small hairs.
Lorraine Wade is all about natural food. She loves to cook and bake, and she’s always experimenting with new recipes. Her friends and family are the lucky beneficiaries of her culinary skills! Lorraine also enjoys hiking and exploring nature. She’s a friendly person who loves to chat with others, and she’s always looking for ways to help out in her community.