edible blossoms – The Gardening Blog

Hi Barbie – I was very inspired by your post about the Edible Flowers in your garden. It got me thinking, how many edible flowers do I have in my garden? Your list is really very comprehensive and includes some flowers I did not know were edible.

I’ve been watching a lot of MasterChef series lately and am always charmed by the look of the dishes that use edible flowers in their plating, but have never ‘tried this at home’. I’m starting to get the whole attraction of decorating a dish with edible flowers, so armed with my camera I went to investigate what flowers I could use to impress guests at my next dinner party.

I was amazed at just how many I have …

[one_half]Sweet little Coriander flowers[/one_half]

[one_half_last]The Waterblommetjies in my pond[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Borage is a popular one[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Lavender … I always have plenty[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Salvia – Really? People eat them?[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Jasmine – could be nice with rice[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Chrysanthemum are pretty[/one_half]

[one_half_last]White Violas are lovely[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Tiniest little violets I’ve ever seen[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Mint – smells wonderful[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Cute little blue pansies[/one_half]

[one_half_last]The common Marigold[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Dianthus – who knew they were edible[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Flower on the purple pepper[/one_half_last]

Some that are not flowering right now …

[one_half]Day Lily – Do people really eat them?[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Apple blossoms are pretty[/one_half_last]

[one_half]and Lemon blossoms are so fragrant[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Four leaf clover – oxalis[/one_half_last]

A few others I’m not showing here are Impatiens, Fuchsia, Sweet Basil, Nasturtium and Begonias amongst others. I’m not sure I’d use many of them in cooking though but I’ll give a few a try.

What Edible Flowers do you have growing in your garden? And do you use them for cooking?

I would love to see a chart made of every single “edible flower” with a photograph, full name and “best used in …” info. A fun project if people from all over the world contributed. Hmmm…. I’ll make the chart if people send me info and once complete I’ll share it.

Happy Gardening
xxx

I came across an article on edible flowers some time ago and while I was thinking of something to blog about, I remembered this and I was quite surprised that I have quite a few of them that grow in my garden (some from Spring to Summer). Of the 35 or so flowers mentioned, I have 21 of them!! These blossoms are used in teas or salads. The borage flower has a light cucumber flavour, the chamomile has a honey flavour and it great as a tea, The marigold is spicy and bitter, and the lemon blossom is good for making citrus water. The jasmine has a delicate sweet flavour and the lemon verbena is perfect for a lemony tea. If you want something spicy or peppery, use Nasturtiums or carnations.

Personally, I would make teas out of the sweet blossoms, like Verbena, Borage, Jasmine and Chamomile and know that they are health giving and delicious to drink. The others I can add to any plate or table for decoration – whether I will actually eat them is another thing!

[one_half]Lemon (Citrus) blossom[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Chamomile[/one_half_last]

[one_third]Fuchsia[/one_third]

[one_third]Mint[/one_third]

[one_third_last]Rosemary[/one_third_last]

[one_half]Thyme[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Lavender[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Pansy[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Lemon Verbena[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Coriander[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Squash flower[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Borage[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Chive[/one_half_last]

The corn flower

[one_half]Sweet Basil[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Dandelion[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Sunflower[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Viola[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Carnation[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Marigolds[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Nasturtiums[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Jasmine[/one_half_last]

Well, not all beautiful flowers are edible – some are actually poisonous!! Can you believe that the Azalea, Clematis, Daffodil, Deadly Nightshade (Belladonna), Delphinium, Nandina, Iris, Lobelia, Potato flower, Sweta Pea, Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow are ALL in the POISONOUS CATEGORY?

Well, be careful and Happy Gardening xxxxx