If you’re looking for an easy way to add color and flavor to your salads, cookies and cakes, look no further than your garden. There are more edible flowers out there than you might think, and you may already have a few growing in your own backyard. Pick ’em, clean ’em and get ready for some colorful munching.
Good to Know: For safety purposes, it’s important to only use organic flowers that haven’t been sprayed with pesticides. After harvesting, keep the flowers in the fridge until ready to use (they should last a few days), then wash gently. For more tips on growing edible flowers, check out our class, Designing Elegant Edible Gardens.
1. Nasturtium
These colorful annuals are super easy to grow by seed and can be found in gorgeous shades of orange, yellow and coral, making them a beautiful garnish for meals like flower salads. Just keep in mind: they have a spicy flavor, so only add them when you want a little kick.
Pro Tip: Watch out for aphids — small, sap-sucking insects — in the late summer. If they attack, spray the plant with soapy water.
2. Calendula
Calendula is another easy annual to grow by seed. They’re best enjoyed with the petals removed and sprinkled on top of greens or a hearty couscous.
3. Lavender
You’ve probably used lavender as an essential oil, but it has culinary uses as well. Add it to sugar for a bit of a floral flavor, mix into summer lemonades, or use it to decorate pretty cakes.
4. Cornflowers
Cornflowers offer that rare cobalt-blue color to the garden and kitchen. An annual easily grown by seed, consider adding their blossoms to salads or use them to decorate festive birthday cakes.
5. Roses
Yep, you really can eat those roses growing in your garden. They add sweetness to cakes in both flavor and aesthetics — sprinkle fuchsia rose petals over a chocolate cake, for example, to create an extra dramatic look.
6. Borage
Fun fact: you might recognize this flower as the garnish in the traditional Pimm’s Cup cocktail. But that’s not all it’s good for — use it to brighten up salads and open-faced sandwiches with a subtle floral note.
7. Pansies
These sweet purple, white and yellow flowers look adorable on top of sugar cookies, or when sugared and used to decorate a cake. You could even detach the petals and sprinkle onto summer salads.
8. Chamomile
Unwinding with a hot cup of chamomile tea is the perfect way to end any day, but it’s not the only use for this herb. Try using it in your baking — the bitterness of the leaves pairs well with the sweetness of ice cream and custard.
9. Dianthus
These pink petals are oh-so-sweet on cakes and cookies, or even tossed into a salad. Just remove their petals and use ’em for a subtle-yet-spicy flavor.
10. Lilacs
The next time you’re enjoying a pitcher of ice-cold water, add a few lilac blossoms. The fragrance alone will make your summer sipping even more enjoyable.
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26 Responses to “10 Edible Flowers You Can Grow in Your Garden”
Berni
Thank you, I knew so much natural things you could eat but I hadn't had time or the space to grow, but I have always wanted to learn about, just never did, now you have given me this bit of great information I will hopefully research more. I just Love Mother Nature for taking care of us.
Chris Nelson
Just the thing I've been looking for. I want to learn how to forage. You can even eat the heads of dandelions. Fry them up in your favorite batter.
Helen Thomson
soubds good
Johanna DeCourcy
These plants are edible for us, but not necessarily for all species. Lavender is not harmful to us, for instance, but it is very toxic to dogs.
Winnie Ryan
A little surprised the article left out squash/pumpkin blossoms. They can be used cooked. Take out the centers and fill with ricotta cheese filling, dip in fritter batter and fry, or tear apart the blossom and add to scrambled eggs or omelets as a couple of examples. I realize most people don’t grow zucchini in the flower garden, but they are still edible flowers.
S
Love this site and all its great content. Just one thing to look out for on this particular article . Please be aware that not all lavender is edible. Please check before consumption. Xx Go well and be safe
Jan
Great information. Shared link! Thanks
dianne
What do they taste like ?
Christina Cumberland
Love this information on the edible flowers. I grow simple herbs and love to cook. Thank you for all your information!!
Dorothy
It would be nice to have photos next to info.
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Thank you, I knew so much natural things you could eat but I hadn't had time or the space to grow, but I have always wanted to learn about, just never did, now you have given me this bit of great information I will hopefully research more. I just Love Mother Nature for taking care of us.
Just the thing I've been looking for. I want to learn how to forage. You can even eat the heads of dandelions. Fry them up in your favorite batter.
soubds good
These plants are edible for us, but not necessarily for all species. Lavender is not harmful to us, for instance, but it is very toxic to dogs.
A little surprised the article left out squash/pumpkin blossoms. They can be used cooked. Take out the centers and fill with ricotta cheese filling, dip in fritter batter and fry, or tear apart the blossom and add to scrambled eggs or omelets as a couple of examples. I realize most people don’t grow zucchini in the flower garden, but they are still edible flowers.
Love this site and all its great content. Just one thing to look out for on this particular article . Please be aware that not all lavender is edible. Please check before consumption. Xx Go well and be safe
Great information. Shared link! Thanks
What do they taste like ?
Love this information on the edible flowers. I grow simple herbs and love to cook. Thank you for all your information!!
It would be nice to have photos next to info.