From Garden to Kitchen.. Edible Flowers

There are many garden flowers you can eat. However, before you consume just any flower, take heed of these guidelines: Eat flowers only when you are positive that they are edible. Some flowers look VERY similar. Be sure to have a positive ID first.

Only eat flowers that were grown organically. Many plants you purchase from retailers have been sprayed with pesticides.

Thoroughly wash all flowers before you consume them.

For most flowers, only consume the petals.

If in doubt that the flower is edible, skip it.

I am sharing a few edible flowers that are growing in my flower garden right that work great in the kitchen!

Nasturtiums

This is a popular edible flower that takes well to containers. Nasturtiums are available in trailing or upright varieties and their color range is reminiscent of a brilliant sunset (think oranges, reds, and yellows). All parts of a nasturtium are edible: petals, leaves, and seeds. They have a peppery, spicy flavor; a cross between watercress and a radish.

Roses

The ideal flower of love, roses offers a sweet flavor with a slight spice. The intensity of flavor will depend on type, color, and soil conditions. The darker the petals, the more pronounced the flavor. All roses are edible, but before consuming, remove the bitter white portion of the petals and definitely stay away from the thorny stems!

Lavender

I’m sure you are familiar with the soothing properties of lavender’s scent. The flowers of this popular herb are used for a multitude of beauty products. Like all herb flowers, lavender blooms are edible. They have a distinctive floral taste with a hint of rosemary/mint combo. Use sparingly in sweet dishes; a little goes a long way. I love making Lavender lemonade in the summer!

Squash Blossoms

The blooms of all types of squash are edible, but the most popular ones come from the male flower of the zucchini and crookneck squash. The blooms have a mild squash taste and can be eaten raw in a salad or stuffed with ricotta and batter fried.

Pansy

These cool-weather colorful flower can add brightness to planters, lollipops, ice cubes, AND cupcakes! They have a sweet, grassy/green flavor. They come in a plethora of color ranges, which makes them a fun flower to use to decorate cakes and as garnishes.

This list is just the tip of the iceberg of edible flowers. Remember to do your research before you eat any flower. Also, just because you can eat them doesn’t mean you should. Sometimes consuming vast amounts of blooms will not sit too kindly in your digestive tract.