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Pretty Delicious! Edible Flowers to Plant in Your Garden
Flower farmingDid you know many of your favorite flowers are also good eating? Edible flowers not only add beauty to your dishes, but they also add flavor and texture. And it's fun to be able to pick fresh flowers from your garden and add them to salads, cocktails, baked goods and more!
It’s important to never eat a flower without checking to make sure it’s edible and non-toxic, of course. We'll cover which flowers can all be safely added to your meals and maybe inspire you to plant some edible flowers in your garden.
Edible Herb Blossoms
Some of the most commonly eaten flowers are those that grow on herbs, of course. Often, they’re used in an infusion or herbal tea.
Chamomile, echinacea, mint, and bergamot all make delightful brews.
Rosemary, chives, and dill flowers are just as edible as their leaves and can be added to a dish for a gorgeous garnish.
Lavender shortbread is scrumptious. The flowers add a hint of floral flavor to offset the sweetness and add a special touch.
Pretty Flowers That Are Also Edible
Many flowers that we think of as ornamental are also edible.
It's important to grow your own flowers for eating. Flowers from florists and garden shops have been grown with chemicals that are not for human consumption.
Also, for most flowers, you will only want to use the petals. Remove the stamens and styles, as these can affect the taste.
Smell the flowers and taste the petals to see what flavor will work best with your dish. Some are peppery, some grassy, and some are minty.
Nasturtiums add a peppery bite and complement meat dishes and salads.
With their array of colors, pansies are a popular choice for embellishing desserts and other dishes. Pansies are a colorful addition with a fresh lettuce-like flavor.
Sugared pansies and rose petals are stylish and look great as cake decorations.
Rose petals are the main ingredient in rosewater, which is a common flavoring in Mediterranean and Indian cuisine.
Hibiscus is another common tea beverage, full of antioxidants and bursting with tangy flavor!
Vegetable Blooms
The blooms of many vegetables are edible. Garlic blossoms are purple and have a milder garlic flavor that adds a surprising bit of variety to your meal.
Squash and zucchini blossoms are often battered, stuffed, and fried. Try to make sure you’re only picking the male blooms to eat, as the female flowers will develop into squash.
Edible Flowers Collection
Our collection of 10 edible flowers will give you a variety of colors and flavors.
Use the flowers of these plants to add an interesting twist to salads, baked goods, and tea.
Nasturtium, Pansy, Lavender, German Chamomile, Calendula, Marigold, Carnation, Dahlia, Johnny Jump-up Violet, and Borage.
Edible Weeds & Native Plants
There are a variety of edible common weeds and native plants. Skilled foragers who know what to look for can gather a whole salad over the course of a hike.
Dandelions have an amazing nutritional profile from flower to root. Dandelion fritters are a tasty, inexpensive treat to add to your meal.
Violets, which are considered a weed in some places, make a great salad. Wisteria adds a lovely bit of color to a salad. Honeysuckle makes a deliciously sweet garnish.
Grow Edible Flowers!
Eating flowers is a delicious and fun way to bring your garden to your table. And growing your own edible flowers means you know they don't have harmful chemicals.
Start growing bright, edible flowers and add a variety of flavors to your culinary creations.
Written by Teresa Chandler
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