Where ever they are found, flowers seem to enhance the physical appearance of the environment. The fact that they come in amazing colors only adds to their mystique beauty.
Whether they are kept in fancy pots in gardens, or seen lying around, growing wildly in bushes; they never cease to fascinate their viewers.
It is no surprise to you that flowers have extended their usefulness to include culinary displays. The use of flowers in dishes can be traced back to 140 B.C, where edible flowers were first mentioned.
The ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt cooks made liquors out of flowers and mixed edible flowers in their dessert. Today, in Asia, India, Europe and other places all over the world, flowers are conveniently used in dishes.
However, this does not imply that you can chew any flower that looks lovely enough to eat. It does not also mean that you should make a full dish out of flowers.
Before using flowers, ensure that you have done a good research on the flower to find out whether or not its edible.
Also, be sure that you have the same type of flowers as flowers tend to look similar, and eating the wrong flower would give off the wrong effect.
When you are including edible flowers to your meal, add them in little proportions as your body might be allergic to a particular type of flower.
Below is a list containing 25 edible flowers that you can eat from your garden.
Red Clover
The unique thing about red clover is that almost all its parts are edible. Despite being a native of western Asia and northwestern Africa, the red clover is globally recognized.
It has high medicinal abilities and has been used to cure illnesses on occasions. The red clover has seeds and leaves that can be edible, but the most preferred part is the flower.
They provide sodium, zinc, calcium and other nutrients for the body. Add them to your tea, include the seeds in your salad, or dry them and grind them into powdered flower. When you add the flour made from red clover’s flower to your baking, the difference is clearly seen.
Sage
These purple colored flowers are as edible as they look. The Salvia officinalis is the particular type of sage that is an edible flower. It is a perennial herb which is a native to the Mediterranean.
From adding the flowers to your beef dish to making a tea out of it, the use is diverse. Sage flowers are safe, especially when you grow them in your garden. Avoid extended use of this flower.
Okra
This is a very popular one. It falls under the hibiscus clan and has diverse, exciting uses. You can do a lot with the Okra plant, and you are allowed to explore and find out the different ways you could eat it.
The only thing you may have to watch out for are the prickly spines. If you carefully take them out after plucking, you should have no problems with okra. It is tasty and highly nutritious.
Geranium
The geraniums are very beautiful and colorful. Their bright pink color makes it almost impossible to miss, and if they seduce you into wanting to eat them, dive right in.
The leaves and oils from this flower comes in handy in the kitchen. You would hardly forget the aroma that the geranium oil will give your desserts and beef dishes.
Pot Marigold
This is another beautiful flower. They are bright orange, colorful, and useful. Some have a peppery taste, while others come out as sweet-bitter. Either way, they produce a very nice flavor when used in dishes. You can find them in salads, or as dressings for desert.
American Elderberry
The elderberries are most commonly found in wine, jams and pies. The fruit is extremely tasty and nutritious. Rich in a lot of vitamins, it also contains antioxidants that can help fight cancer.
It thrives well in moist areas because it requires a lot of water for its growth, although it can still survive in dry soil. The stem and leaves can be poisonous.
Chamomile
The chamomile tea is famous for its medicinal use. It is made from the dried chamomile flower. Adding chamomile leaves to your salad will make it more palatable.
It also has a certain sweetness that makes it a favorite for desserts and ice cream. Chamomile comes in German and Roman types.
Borage
Borage has a taste similar to cucumbers. It is a favourite for pollen insects. It has an attractive blue color and clovers that spread out to form a star shape.
It is mainly used as a vegetable and as such will make a tasty salad dish. When placed in wine, they can produce a lightening effect on humans. They are famous for making people ‘forget their sorrows’.
Dandelion
Dandelions are totally edible. From the flowers to the roots, every part of it is safe to eat. The dandelion leaves taste like a vegetable with a slightly bitter touch.
They are delicious and can be eaten in salads. This particular flower is packed with tons of nutrients like calcium, potassium and a lot of vitamins.
Roses
The good old roses are very much edible. Darker colored roses are known to be sweeter. Their petals can be used in salads, melted and made into syrups, buttered or sprinkled on desserts. Roses are sweet with an underlying mint taste.
Hibiscus
We definitely encourage you to add hibiscus to your garden collection. Asides from beautifying your garden with their color, the flowers, leaves and fruits are edible. Hibiscus tea is usually made from the calyxes, and the leaves can be used to make good tea.
Carnation
When they are trimmed from their base, the petals of carnations are sweet, with an underlying peppery flavor. The carnation is famous for its feature in the Chartreuse since the 18th century. They make a pretty good salad combination, and can also be added to pies and cupcakes.
Garland Chrysanthemum
This flower makes a lot of appearances in Asian dishes. The Asians use this flower to make tea, and also use them in places of greens in their meals. Some species of this flower are sweet, while others are peppery. They can also be used in wines.
Honeysuckle
Honeysuckles smell amazing. They contain a delicious nectar, and their leaves are also edible but do not eat their berries as they are poisonous. Dropping the nectar into your ice cream will definitely make your day.
Curcuma
These flowers have dramatic colors which add to their attractiveness. They have a taste similar to butter lettuce. They provide essential nutrients and can be a powerful anti-oxidant source. You can mix them with other ingredients and add them to a mix of vegetable salad.
Violet
Violet flowers contain a high level of vitamins A and C. The flowers and leaves of most violet species are edible. The flower can be used to make jellies and deserts. While the leaves, when mixed with lemon balm, will make a good salad.
Zucchini
These can be eaten raw, boiled or pan-fried to enjoy them. They contain a good amount of vitamin C and potassium. Zucchini can be grown for both their fruits and their flowers. If eating raw, ensure that you take out the sepals before eating them, and wash them properly.
Passion flower
These flowers have an appealing appearance. Add their culinary importance to their elegance, and you would consider adding them to your garden collection. They can be complemented with chamomile or lemon balm for a nice flavor.
English Daisy
Despite their somewhat bitter flavor, they are edible. Use them in small quantities as they can easily overwhelm the taste of the whole dish. Add them to your salad bowl for a different but great taste.
Basil
Most times, the leaves of basils are used before the flower starts to sprout. Basil is known to have a minty flavor and numerous health benefits. It has great medicinal importance and is rich in nutrients.
Bergamot
Also called bee balm, the Bergamot flower has a strong mint flavor with an underlying citrus taste. The leaves can be eaten either raw or used to add flavor to food and garnish salads. The tea that is brewed from this flower is quite tasty.
Pansy
Pansies come in numerous attractive colors. They can be eaten raw, or added to cooked foods. Pansies can be eaten down to their sepals. Add them to a bowl of fruit salad, or place them in cake icing and you’ll be glad you did.
Sunflower
Sunflowers are not just beautiful; they are also edible. Their seeds can be eaten raw, or roasted. Their leaves can be brewed to make tea, or added to a salad to add some color in your bowl.
Nasturtium
All parts of the Nasturtium flower can be eaten. It has a particularly sweet and peppery flavor which is quite enjoyable. The flowers of Nasturtium can be used for decoration in a lot of dishes.
Dill
Dill plant has a spiny, yellow flower, and edible seeds. The flowers are also very much edible and can be added to a plate of salad. It is among the top tasty edible flowers you can get.
Twenty five edible flowers from your garden is about a list of flowers that are good for eating and making wines.25 Edible Flowers You Can Eat From Your Garden
Instructions
Red Clover
Sage
Okra
Geranium
Pot Marigold
American Elderberry
Chamomile
Borage
Dandelion
Roses
Hibiscus
Carnation
Garland Chrysanthemum
Honeysuckle
Curcuma
Violet
Zucchini
Passion flower
English Daisy
Basil
Bergamot
Pansy
Sunflower
Nasturtium
Dill
