Flowers are not just useful for the visual delight they offer alone. Some of them are nutrient-dense, just as it is obtainable with fruits and vegetables. Plus, they can be delicious too.
In this article, we will look at some of the safe flowers to eat and improve the taste of your dishes. Also included are some well-detailed links showing how to incorporate them into your recipes.
Let’s get started!
Jump to:
- Flowers You Can Eat
- 1. Dahlias
- 2. Marigold
- 3. Fuchsias
- 4. Lilacs
- 5. Lavender ‘Lavandula’
- 6. Nasturtium ‘Tropaeolum’
- 7. Magnolia
- 8. Cherry Blossoms ‘Sakura’
- 9. Pansies ’Viola x wittrockiana’
- 10. Roses ‘Rosa’
- 11. Carnation Flowers ‘Dianthus caryophyllus’
- 12. Hibiscus ‘Hibiscus moscheutos.’
- 13. Allium Flowers
- 14. Peonies
- 15. Chamomile ‘Matricaria recutita.’
- 16. Calendula ‘Calendula officinalis.’
- 17. Johnny Jump-ups ‘Viola tricolor.’
- 18. Orchids ‘Orchidaceae’
- 19. Squash Blossoms ‘Cucurbita pepo.’
- 20. Dandelions
- 21. Begonia
- 22. Borage
- 23. Basil Flowers
- 24. Butterfly Pea Flowers
- 25. Chive Blossoms
- Bonus Flower
- 26. Cornflowers ‘Centaurea cyanus’
- Final Note
Flowers You Can Eat
Edible flowers make a great addition to your meals, no doubt, but there are some tips you have to take note of:
Some flowers, even though safe to consume, might not sit well with you and cause some allergic reactions.
To this end, if it isn’t something you have tried before, do so in minute quantities to be sure you are okay with it.
You must also ensure that the edible flowers you consume are grown under the best hygienic conditions before consuming them. You do not want to digest those sprayed periodically with pesticides, open to waste/debris, or planted with contaminated soil.
Now that we have established these essential facts let us check out some delicious edible flowers you will enjoy eating.
1. Dahlias
Dahlias look appetizing not just to the eyes alone but to your taste buds, also.
This edible flower spots a bulb-like shape as it grows, with petals looking like tight bulbs sometimes. You will find them available in every color of the rainbow.
How can you use Dahlia in cooking?
Its compact petals transform the entire outlook of your meal when used as a garnish or cake topping. It also enhances the flavor of your savory dishes.
Bloom Period? July to September.
2. Marigold
Marigolds make your dishes come alive just like the sunset they look like.
You can infuse them in different ways - in raw food items like your cooking oil, for instance, to add that saffron taste to whatever it will be used for, cooked things like your pizza and stir-fries, soup bases, and lots more.
They are also incorporated into many cuisines developed around the world. Due to Marigolds' rich, sharp color, it is also used as cake or toppings and salad dressing.
Bloom Period? April End to September.
(Recipe to Tamales made with Marigold)
3. Fuchsias
Do not just feed your eyes with the stunning flower. Treat yourself to a yummy treat with it in your dishes and desserts.
Fuchsia flowers can be used as a garnish for cakes, salads, and even cocktail drinks.
Do you know what else you can use the Fuchsia flowers in?
Your jam preparation! Its berry-like taste is sure to make it come out delicious.
Bloom Period: Mid-March to May.
Here is a link that shows how to use the fuchsia flower in various recipes.
4. Lilacs
The good thing about this edible flower is that they are super easy to grow and maintain, so you have little or no issues in developing them for your culinary purposes.
With the beautiful colors of pink, white, and purple available, they do great when used as garnishes for cakes, desserts, and even cocktails.
Have they dipped in honey or sugar for that unmistakable pleasant flavor in your beverages?
Bloom Period: April - June.
5. Lavender ‘Lavandula’
The popular lavender flower has long since been used in culinary applications.
Lavender can be used fresh or dried, as most people prefer. They are versatile and can be used in baking, cooking, and cocktail preparation.
Try infusing the lavender flower in ice creams, honey, or cakes. Have it transform your sugar into lavender sugar with just a dip.
Bloom Period: April End to July.
Here is a link that directs you on how to use lavender in making delicious scones with lavender.
6. Nasturtium ‘Tropaeolum’
Yet another popular edible flower with a brilliant orange or red hue or sharp or dull yellow sometimes.
This plant has edible petals and leaves and can be used for cooking and medicinal purposes.
They are perfect for garnishing savory dishes, salad dressing, and pastry making.
An added advantage is that they are straightforward to grow and maintain.
Bloom Period? May to September.
Here is a link that shows how to infuse the nasturtium in a mixed green salad.
7. Magnolia
Magnolias are pretty edible flowers that form a bowl or star shape of yellow, pink, white, and other brilliant colors when they bloom.
Magnolia petals are significantly used in cooking. They can be incorporated into your syrup-making or garnishing for your salads.
Most people use the magnolia flower in a bride’s bouquet and complement the wedding cake.
Bloom Period? Late March to Mid-May.
(Recipe for pickled Magnolia petals)
8. Cherry Blossoms ‘Sakura’
The cherry blossom flower is one plant that draws many people from different parts of the world to witness its usual short-lived bloom in parts of Europe, Japan, South Korea, etc.
As the Japanese usually call Sakura's is stunning flowers in yellow, white, bright, or dark pink. Infuse them in ice creams and cookies or use them as cake toppings.
Bloom Period? Late March - Mid-April.
(Three of the best cherry blossom recipes)
9. Pansies ’Viola x wittrockiana’
You will find Pansies in various sizes and colors with varying amounts of petals.
They also have a wide range of culinary uses too—cocktail preparation, salad dressing, and dessert toppings, to mention just a few.
Pansies can be used in whatever cooking application violet flowers are used for, as they belong to the more extraordinary violet family.
A special tip is to have Pansies dried and mashed into your salt or sugar, which you can use for your pastry.
Bloom Period? April to November.
(Six Delicious Desserts Featuring Edible Pansies)
10. Roses ‘Rosa’
As sweet as the name rose sounds, it would have been quite a surprise if they were not edible.
Roses, with their delightful shades of bright Ruby red, ivory purple, yellow, and orange, have been used in culinary applications since the old days.
They can decorate cakes infused with honey, milk, or dessert toppings.
Bloom Period? Early May-August End.
(Try out this interesting Rose flower recipe)
11. Carnation Flowers ‘Dianthus caryophyllus’
Not only do the Carnation flowers beautify your space with their colorful hues of purple, pink, green, yellow, red, etc. they also decorate your dishes.
Infuse them in your meats, salads even syrups for cocktail mixing and ice cream. They have got a fantastic flavor that you are bound to find irresistible.
Bloom Period? May to September.
(A delicious Carnation flower recipe)
12. Hibiscus ‘Hibiscus moscheutos.’
Hibiscus is a popular edible flower, usually used in its fresh or dried state to prepare simple syrups, non-caffeinated teas, and salad dressing.
This flower has brilliant hues of diverse pink shades, red, yellow, orange, etc.
Try out the hibiscus flower cakes with a tropical flavor using passion fruits, mangoes, etc.
Bloom Period? July - Mid-September.
(Recipe for the Hibiscus herbed cheese crostini)
13. Allium Flowers
Enjoy these herbaceous flowers from the onion family, the same as chive, garlic, and the rest.
Use them in dressing savory dishes, infuse them into your pasta recipes and enjoy the subtle hint of onion flavor.
Bloom Period? May to June.
Here is a link that shows how to infuse the allium flower in making vinegar.
14. Peonies
It should not come as a surprise to find the luxurious peony flower on this list. It is only fair that the expensive plant extends the exquisiteness it offers in our garden space to our dishes.
Use them in their fresh state to decorate celebration cakes and cocktails, and the petals can be used in salad making or a peony jam.
Bloom Period? Mid-May to June End.
(Three of the best peony recipes)
15. Chamomile ‘Matricaria recutita.’
Chamomile tea should ring a bell in the ears of any tea lover. The chamomile flower is the star ingredient of that popular apple-like soothing tea.
In their complete form, chamomiles can also be used as a garnish for savory dishes.
16. Calendula ‘Calendula officinalis.’
Enjoy this edible Marigold plant by sprinkling it on your dishes. Its slightly peppery flavor is perfect for your grain-made dishes and soups.
(Delicious recipe using the calendula flower)
17. Johnny Jump-ups ‘Viola tricolor.’
Also known as wild pansies, the Johnny Jump-ups share close relationship ties with pansies.
They do perfectly great as a garnish for mocktails.
Here is a link that exposes you to mocktail recipes using edible flowers, like the Johnny Jump-ups.
18. Orchids ‘Orchidaceae’
You might know orchids as beautiful houseplants, but what most people do not know is that they are equally edible as well.
When used as ingredients for salads, sauces, teas, and drinks, their impact is not unnoticed.
A lot of people have likened its taste to a cucumber.
(Orchid flower Panna-cotta recipe)
19. Squash Blossoms ‘Cucurbita pepo.’
Squash blossoms can be found in shades of yellow or orange in winter and summer squash.
Zucchini or courgette, as they are also called, are great for pizza toppings or even just sauteed. The hint of vegetable flavor it offers is one to be experienced.
(Deep-fried Cheese recipe using squash blossoms)
20. Dandelions
Dandelions are known to be weeds, but we know them as nutrient-dense.
They make a unique ingredient in bread making and salad dressing. You can even go ahead and chew them raw!
(Interesting Dandelion recipe)
21. Begonia
Every part of the Begonia flower is edible and fit to eat. They add a distinct citrus flavor when used as a garnish and in your salads.
(Recipe for a delicious begonia fritter dish)
22. Borage
Borage is a stunning blue flower shaped just like a star. It does excellent in salads and lemonades. Its taste can be likened to cucumber.
(Borage grilled chicken recipe)
23. Basil Flowers
Commonly used as a garnish in salads and pasta, basil flowers can serve just fine in teas.
A quick tip will be to wash bail leaves thoroughly and have them put in a jar of either white or red vinegar.
Allow staying for about seven days, then sieve out the flower and use the liquid content to serve as juice or in your salad dressings.
Dried fresh basil leaves equal the same amount of rich flavor. Most people will find its flowers to have a more subtle flavor than the leaves.
24. Butterfly Pea Flowers
You will enjoy the mild sweetness of this flower in your salads, cakes, and fish dishes.
The pea-like flavor it adds will leave you yearning for more.
Please note that only vegetable pea flowers are safe for consumption. Stay away from the toxic sweet pea ones.
(Butterfly pea lemonade recipe)
25. Chive Blossoms
This flower gives you a burst of onion flavor. You can either use just the petals or the bunch of flowers.
Below is a recipe for Grilled potato made with Chive Blossoms. You’ll love it
(Amazing recipe featuring chive flower)
Bonus Flower
26. Cornflowers ‘Centaurea cyanus’
Cornflowers, or Bachelor’s button, as some would call it, with their signature vibrant blue color, are edible flowers used as a garnish.
The taste of the flower can best be described as slightly spicy. Their petals are known to be sometimes used in teas like the Lady Grey specifically.
Final Note
Did you know that the safest place to get edible flowers for your culinary application is one you grow?
Growing these edible flowers will help improve your culinary skills as you can experiment and improvise with the different recipe links added to everyone outlined above.
These links curated from standard food bloggers will give you a step by step information on how to incorporate these flowers easily.
Your meals do not have to look dull. Make them appealing to the eyes and, at the same time, too cute to be devoured with our list of the best edible flowers.
