Edible flowers

Like edible weeds, edible flowers are a useful plants that have been around for some time. There are close to 100 types of common garden flowers that are edible. The ancient Romans cultivated roses, violets, and borage for culinary use. Today, edible flowers are a popular way to add color, scent, and flavor to foods. Add to their nutritional value. Many (like rose hips, marigolds, and nasturtiums) and high in vitamin C. Dandelion blossoms contain vitamins A and C.

If you suffer from allergies or asthma, you should exercise caution and introduce edible flowers into the diet slowly, if at all. Edible flowers should be grown organically, and never picked from roadsides or purchased from florists. Flowers should be harvested in the morning after the dew has evaporated. After picking, put long-stemmed flowers in water and keep them in a cool place. Short-stemmed flowers should be used within a few hours, or stored in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. Before using, wash flowers gently and check for dirt and insects.

For the best flavor, remove the stamens and pistils from flowers (which contain pollen and can trigger allergies). The sepals should also be removed, except for violets, pansies, and Johnny-jump-ups.

A few common annuals include: borage, calendula, chamomile, impatiens, and nasturtium. Common perennials include chives and daylilies. To view a complete chart with pictures and planting tips, visit the About.com article on edible flowers, including color pictures.




Be sure not to eat any flower unless you are sure about its identity. Many flowers that are poisonous to animals are no good for humans, either. Flowers that should be avoided include azaleas, belladonna, calla lily, castor bean, calla lilly, crocus, daphne, foxglove, larkspur, lily-of-the-valley, nightshade, and rhododendron. For pictures and descriptions, visit the Cornell University Poisonous Plants Information Database.

References:

1) "Edible Flowers"; Iowa State University Extension; www.extension/iastate.edu/Publications/RG302.pdf

2) "Edible Flowers"; North Carolina State University; www.ces/ncsu.edu/hil/hil-8513.html

3) "Ten rules of edible flowers." Sherry Rindels; Horticulture and Home Pest News; Iowa State University Dept. of Horticulture, 1997, 2 p.

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