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The Boraginaceae are widely distributed in temperate and tropical regions. Many species of the Boraginaceae serve as ornamentals [e.g., Heliotropium, Mertensia (Virginia bluebells), Myosotis (forget-me-not), Lithodora, and Pulmonaria (lungwort)]. Other species have been used as medicinal herbs [e.g., Borago (borage), Symphytum (comfrey)]. Many species in the family are poisonous.

This family probably includes the Hydrophyllaceae, although more systematic work is needed. The Boraginaceae shares one feature with the Lamiaceae&emdash;an ovary with four nutlets. This also occurs in the Verbenaceae and has apparently arisen independently in these three families. Another feature of many of the genera in the family is that the flowers change color rapidly after pollination (usually from pink to blue) as a signal to pollinators.

The Boraginaceae in our flora are herbaceous annuals or perennials, usually with rough or stiff hairy foliage. The leaves are generally alternate, entire, and stems are round in cross-section. The flowers are produced in coiled inflorescences (helicoid cymes) that uncoil as the flowers open. The flowers are radially symmetrical with 5 sepals, 5 connate petals, 5 stamens alternating with the petal lobes, and a superior ovary divided into 4 nutlets. The flowers are generally white or blue (or pink as they open).