EDIBLE FLOWERS from Garden to Palate

EDIBLE FLOWERS from Garden to Palate

An excellent reference is the book Edible Flowers from Garden to Palate by Cathy Wilkinson Barash, which contains 280 recipes for 67 different flowers. Also Edible Flowers: Drinks & Desserts

COMMON NAME BOTANIC NAMEFLAVOR

Anise hyssopAgastachefoeniculumLicorice

AppleMalusspp.Floral

ArugulaEruca vesicaria sativaPeppery

Banana Musaspp.Sweet

BasilOcimum basilicumHerbal

BeebalmMonarda didymaSpicy/sweet

BorageBorago officinalisCucumber

BroccoliBrassica oleracea var. italicaSpicy

CalendulaCalendula officinalis Slightly bitter

Canary creeperTropaeolum peregrinumPeppery

ChamomileChamaemelum nobileApple

ChicoryCichorium intybusSlightly bitter

ChivesAllium schoenoprasum Oniony

ChrysanthemumDendranthema grandiflorumMild to slightly bitter

Coriander (Cilantro)CoriandrumsativumHerbal

DandelionTaraxacum officinaleSweet-slightly bitter

DaylilyHemerocallisspp.Sweet to vegetal

DianthusDianthus caryophyllusSweet, clove

DillAnethum graveolensHerbal

ElderberrySambucus canadensis Sweet

English daisyBellis perennisSlightly bitter

FennelFoeniculum vulgareHerbal

Garlic chivesAllium tuberosumGarlicky

HibiscusHibiscus rosa-sinensisMild citrus

HollyhockAlcea roseaMild nutty

HoneysuckleLonicera japonicaSweet floral

HyssopHyssopus officinalisStrong herbal

Japanese plumPrunus‘Mume’Sweet almond

JasmineJasminum sambac & J. officinaleSweet floral

Johnny-jump-upViola tricolorSlightly minty

KaleBrassica oleracea, Acephala groupSpicy

LavenderLavandulaspp.Strong floral

LemonCitrus limonSweet citrus

Lemon verbena Aloysia triphylla Sweet citrus

LilacSyringa spp.Floral

LindenTiliaspp. Sweet

MarjoramOriganum vulgareHerbal

MintMenthaspp.Minty

MustardBrassica junceaSpicy

NasturtiumTropaeolum majusPeppery

Nodding onionAllium cernuumOniony

OcotilloFouquieria splendensSweet cranberry

OkraAbelmoschus aesculentusMild, sweet

OrangeCitrus sinensisSweet citrus

Oregano Origanumspp. Herbal

PansyViola×wittrockianaSlight minty

PeaPisum sativumPea-like

Pineapple guavaAcca (Feijoa) sellowianaSweet tropical

Pineapple sageSalvia elegansSpicy sweet

RadishRaphanus sativusPeppery

Red cloverTrifolium pratenseSweet

RedbudCercis canadensisPea-like

RoseRosa spp. Floral

Rose of SharonHibiscus syriacusMild

Roselle (Jamaica)Hibiscus sabdariffaMild citrus

RosemaryRosmarinus officinalisHerbal

Runner beanPhaseolus coccineusBean-like

SafflowerCarthamus tinctoriusBitter

SageSalvia officinalisHerbal

Scented geraniumPelargonium spp.Floral

Signet marigoldTagetes tenuifoliaCitrusy tarragon

ShungikuChrysanthemum coronariumSlightly bitter

Society garlicTulbaghia violaceaSweet garlicky

SquashCurcubita pepospp.Vegetal

Summer savorySatureja hortensisHerbal

SunflowerHelianthus annuusBittersweet

Sweet woodruffGalium odoratumFresh, sweet

ThymeThymusspp. Herbal

Tuberous begoniaBegonia×tuberhybridaCitrus

TulipTulipaspp.Bean- or pea-like

VioletViola odorataSweet floral

Winter savorySatureja montanaHerbal

Yucca Yuccaspp.Sweet (must be cooked)

THE 10 COMMANDMENTS OF EDIBLE FLOWERS

1. Eat only those flowers you can positively identify as safe and edible. Learn the Latin or botanical
names, which are universally accepted (common names may vary from region to region).

2. Do not assume that restaurants and caterers always know which flowers are edible. Just because
it is on your plate does not mean it is edible (see Rule #1).

3. Eat only those flowers that have been grown organically.

4. Do not eat flowers from florists, nurseries, garden centers or public gardens (see Rule #3).

5. Eat only the petals of flowers; always remove and discard the pistils and stamens before eating.
(Except for the tiny flowers like thyme where it would be like performing microsurgery to remove
the pistils and stamens.)

6. Do not eat flowers picked from the side of heavily trafficked roads.

7. Eat only the flowers of the recommended plants; other parts may be toxic or inedible, even though
the flower may be delicious.

8. Do not eat flowers if you have hay fever, asthma or allergies.

9. Gradually introduce flowers into your diet - one at a time and in small quantities, the way you
would new food to a baby.
10. Not all sweet-smelling flowers are edible; some are poisonous.