Back when I was young, I had no idea flowers could be edible.
When my mom told me this for the first time, I thought about all the times I looked at flowers from her garden and had to stop myself from taking a bite of those sweet and scrumptious-looking petals.
Yeah…don’t do that! Not all flowers are good for you.
However, there are some that are both beautiful looking and taste amazing. Let’s discuss them in detail today.
12 Edible Flowers To Grow At Home For Beauty & Flavor
1: Lavender
Some of you might already know this but lavender is probably the most popular edible plant out there. And, I mean…rightfully so. It’s super fragrant, gives a delectable floral touch to dishes, and can be used in a variety of ways in the kitchen, especially when making sweet treats.
2: Chamomile
A lot of people know chamomile only because of chamomile tea, so there’s no doubt if it’s edible or not.
In the garden, this light flower with a bright yellow center goes really well against darker background plants, creating visual contrast and giving the landscape some depth.
3: Marigolds
Yes, believe it or not, marigolds too are edible flowers, perfect for adding a citrusy sweet zing to your sweet and savory salads. Some even prefer infusing tea with marigold flowers; that sounds like a wonderful idea.
The best thing about having marigolds in your garden is that they’re not only edible but also provide pest protection to other crops nearby.
4: Bee Balms
This special perennial is not only an attraction for natural pollinators like bees and butterflies but also serves as a delicious tangy garnish for sweet dishes and drinks.
5: Calendulas
Calendula flowers are also quite popular as an herbal tea ingredient that adds tons of flavor and soothing properties to the drink. In the garden, they’re the most majestic, vibrant flowers with a round shape and dark center that’s recognizable even from far away.
6: Borage
Though borage flowers can be toxic if consumed in large quantities, they don’t pose a risk when consumed in typical culinary amounts
Many people say the smell and taste of borage resemble cucumbers, but that hasn’t been my experience. You can add them to tea for a fresh, earthy flavor if you want.
7: Pansies
Though you may not have heard a lot of people talk about consuming pansies in their regular everyday lives, it’s actually the cake decoration realm where they’re most used.
One cannot argue about the beauty they add to the garden either. Pansies have been a staple in ancient and modern-day gardening thanks to their bright, vibrant colors and velvety soft petals.
8: Nasturtiums
Just because nasturtiums are commonly referred to as trap crops in the garden doesn’t mean they have no other use. Apart from being elegantly sharp and beautiful, they’re also edible and incredibly delicious when added to drinks and salads for a mild, peppery kick.
9: Violets
Pansies and violets generally fall in the same category but I decided to mention them separately here since they’re useful for other certain things. Icecream and sweet treats can definitely benefit from a few violet petals but using them as garnish in large drink jugs and fountains is where it’s really at.
10: Sunflowers
Sunflowers have been used in herbal teas and savory dishes for centuries now. Commonly, it’s the seeds that are consumed and are most popular. However, the petals have their own lovers and make a lot of sense in some dishes.
11: Orchids
Despite the orchid variety, they’re all edible and utilized in various sweet and savory dishes. Orchid petals can be used to garnish salads, infuse tea, and even decorate cakes by adding a bright pop of color to them.
12: Rose
How could I finish this article without mentioning the mighty rose?
Typically, roses are the first flowers we learn are edible since they’re already present in our everyday food items like jams, teas, and cough syrups. You can eat rose petals on their own too and certain rose varieties tend to taste sweeter than others.
