Boraginaceae
Common borage
Borago officinalis
- Family
- Boraginaceae
- Genus
- Borago
Pets and kids
- CatsMildly toxic
- DogsMildly toxic
- KidsNot sure
Why
Cats: Mildly toxic
Mildly toxic to cats. Toxic principle: tannins, mucilage.
Signs: vomiting, diarrhea, dermatitis.
- Borage - Toxic and Non-toxic Plants - ASPCA ASPCA Animal Poison Control
Dogs: Mildly toxic
Mildly toxic to dogs. Toxic principle: tannins, mucilage.
Signs: vomiting, diarrhea, dermatitis.
- Borage - Toxic and Non-toxic Plants - ASPCA ASPCA Animal Poison Control
Kids: Not sure
We found no reliable source on this plant for young children, so we don't call it safe. Keep it out of reach until you have checked with a doctor or poison control.
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Is Common borage safe for cats, dogs and kids?
Is Common borage safe for cats?
No. Our sources call Common borage mildly toxic to cats. Toxic principle: tannins, mucilage. Signs: vomiting, diarrhea, dermatitis.
- Borage - Toxic and Non-toxic Plants - ASPCA ASPCA Animal Poison Control
Is Common borage safe for dogs?
No. Our sources call Common borage mildly toxic to dogs. Toxic principle: tannins, mucilage. Signs: vomiting, diarrhea, dermatitis.
- Borage - Toxic and Non-toxic Plants - ASPCA ASPCA Animal Poison Control
Is Common borage safe for kids?
We found no reliable source on this plant for young children, so we don't call it safe. Keep it out of reach until you have checked with a doctor or poison control.
Ate some? Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 (a fee may apply). For a child, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US). If they are struggling to breathe or collapse, call 911. Don't give anything by mouth unless a vet or poison expert tells you to.
See all cat-safe plants, dog-safe plants and child-safe plants.
Common names
By language (35)
- Arabic
- عشبة لسان الثور, الحمحم, بورج الشائع, لسان الثور
- Aragonese
- Borraina
- Asturian
- Borraxa
- Belarusian
- Агурочная трава, Бурачнік
- Catalan
- Borraina, Borraixa, Borratges, Echium amoenum, Pa i peixet
- Chinese
- 玻璃苣, 琉璃苣
- Czech
- Brutnák lékařský
- Dutch
- Bernagie, Borage, Bernagieolie, Borageolie, Komkommerkruid
- English
- Common borage, Starflower
- Estonian
- Harilik kurgirohi
- Filipino
- B officinalis, B. officinalis, Boraga, Borage, Boraha, Borraja, Echium amoenum
- Finnish
- Kurkkuyrtti, Purasruoho, Rohtopurasruoho
- French
- Bourrache officinale, Bourrache
- Galician
- Borraxe
- German
- Borretsch, Blauhimmelstern, Borretschöl, Gurkenkraut, Gurkenkönig, Kukumerkraut
- Greek
- Πουράτζινα
- hsb
- Poklate zelo, Wudrowa kwětka
- Japanese
- ルリジサ, ボリジ, ポリジ, ポリジー, ルリヂサ, ルリヂシャ
- Latvian
- Gurķene, Gurķumētra
- lij
- Borraxe
- Lithuanian
- Vaistinės aguklės
- Macedonian
- Лисичинка
- pcd
- Lan·we-éd-buë
- Persian
- گل گاو زبان, گل گاوزبان
- Portuguese
- Borrage
- Russian
- Огуречная трава, Бораго, Бурачник, Бурачник лекарственный, Огуречник
- scn
- Vurrani, Vurrania
- Slovak
- Borák lekársky
- Slovenian
- Boraga, Boreč, Boreček, Borečnik, Buraza, Lisičina, Lisička, Poraga
- Spanish
- Borraja, Corrago
- Swedish
- Gurkört, Stofferblomma
- Turkish
- Hodan
- Ukrainian
- Бурачник
- Walloon
- Bourace, Bourache, Bouretche
- Welsh
- Tafod yr ych
Synonyms
- Borago advena Gilib.
- Borago aspera Gilib.
- Borago hortensis L.
Characteristics
- Growth habit
- Forb/herb
- Lifespan
- Annual
- In the US and Canada
- Alaska: introduced, Canada: introduced, Lower 48 states: introduced
Photos
Photo: Jengod, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: AnRo0002, CC0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: AnRo0002, CC0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: AnRo0002, CC0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: AnRo0002, CC0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: AnRo0002, CC0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: AnRo0002, CC0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: AnRo0002, CC0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: AnRo0002, CC0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: AnRo0002, CC0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: AnRo0002, CC0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: AnRo0002, CC0, from Wikimedia Commons
More in Borago
Sources: classification, synonyms from World Flora Online Plant List (2026-06, CC0 1.0); common names, popularity from Wikidata (2026-10-26, CC0 1.0); common names, US characteristics from USDA PLANTS Database (2025-05-29, CC0 1.0). About our plant data.