Family: Boraginaceae

Borago officinalis, commonly known as borage, starflower, or beebread, is an annual herb native to the Mediterranean region. It is easily recognized by its bright blue, star-shaped flowers and soft, fuzzy leaves. Borage is widely grown in gardens as a culinary and medicinal herb; the leaves and flowers are edible and often used to add a mild cucumber flavor to salads, beverages, and garnishes. The plant is also valued as a nectar-rich resource for bees, making it a popular addition to pollinator-friendly gardens.

In Hawaiʻi, borage is not known to be naturalized or invasive, and it poses minimal environmental risk. It tends to remain where it is planted and does not aggressively spread in warm tropical climates. However, like any cultivated herb, it should still be grown responsibly to prevent unwanted seeding, especially in cooler, higher elevation areas where it could persist longer. Overall, borage is considered a low-risk plant for Hawaiʻi when properly managed.

High Risk Traits:

• Widely naturalized
  
• Can become aggressive and weedy in garden settings
  
• Contains small amounts of pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can cause liver damage and liver cancer
  
• Tolerates many soil conditions (and potentially able to exploit many different habitat types)
  
• Self-compatible
  
• Reaches maturity in under 1 year
  
• Spread intentionally by people and by ants, or adhering to animals
  
• Seeds may persist in the soil

Low Risk Traits:

• Unarmed (no spines, thorns or burrs)
  
• Palatable to cattle and goats
  
• Consumed by people
  
• Does not spread vegetatively
  
• Seeds not dispersed very far by natural means
  
• May be effectively controlled with herbicides