Edible flowers have become a popular trend in cooking, adding both vibrant color and unique flavors to dishes, from salads to cakes. Growing your own edible flowers ensures you can enjoy fresh, pesticide-free blooms right from your garden. Below is a list of 17 of the best edible flowers to grow, along with tips on their flavors and how to incorporate them into your culinary creations.
1. Calendula
Calendula petals are perfect for adding a zesty, slightly bitter flavor to salads. These vibrant blooms, available in shades of yellow, orange, and pink, are easy to grow and attract pollinators. You can also dry the petals for use in teas. Remember to only consume the petals, as the centers are not edible.
2. Bee Balm
With its star-shaped, bright red flowers, bee balm (Monarda didyma) adds a sweet and spicy flavor to salads and teas. Its minty-bergamot scent makes it an ideal garnish, while also attracting bees and butterflies to your garden.
3. Dahlia
Dahlias offer a variety of flavors, from spicy and apple-like to water chestnut-like. These blooms can be used fresh or candied with sugar to decorate baked goods. Experiment with different dahlia varieties to find your favorite flavor.
4. Herb Flowers
Herbs such as basil, cilantro, and dill produce delicate edible flowers. These flowers add flavor to dishes and help attract beneficial pollinators to your garden. Use the flowers as you would the leaves in cooking.
5. Nasturtium
Nasturtium flowers have a peppery flavor that enhances salads, dips, and pesto. Their colorful petals, ranging from creamy yellow to vibrant red, make them a beautiful addition to any dish. Harvest the flowers early in the day after the dew dries for the best flavor.
6. Violets
Violet petals offer a mild, sweet flavor and add a charming touch to teas, sandwiches, and desserts. These delicate flowers can sometimes be found growing wild, but ensure the area hasn’t been treated with chemicals before picking.
7. Pansies
Pansies have a mild floral and slightly spicy flavor. Known for their “face-like” markings, they make a striking garnish for cakes, salads, and croissants. Their large, flat petals can even cover the top of a cupcake for a whimsical presentation.
8. Tuberous Begonia
Tuberous begonia petals have a tart, lemony flavor and add a bright splash of color to your dishes. These flowers work well as confetti in soups or as dippers for yogurt, thanks to their crisp texture.
9. Borage
Borage flowers have a refreshing cucumber flavor and are great for garnishing salads, drinks, or desserts. They are easy to grow and attract pollinators, making them a garden favorite.
10. Dianthus
Known as “pinks,” dianthus flowers have fringed petals and a mild floral taste. They make beautiful additions to ice cubes for cocktails or garnish for savory dishes. Clove pinks offer a stronger, clove-like fragrance.
11. Bachelor’s Button
Bachelor’s button, also known as cornflower, has blue edible flowers that add a delicate spicy-sweet flavor to salads and steamed greens. The flowers can also be dried and used in tea.
12. Roselle
The burgundy calyx of the roselle plant is used to make tart and fruity hibiscus tea. You can also incorporate roselle into sweet bread recipes with cranberry-hibiscus jam for a unique flavor combination.
13. Roses
Rose petals are perfect for enhancing cakes, jellies, drinks, and fruit dishes. Their flavor mirrors their fragrance, so the more aromatic the rose, the stronger the taste. Use them to add elegance and depth to any dessert.
14. Stock
Stock flowers, with their clove-like scent and vibrant colors, are great for garnishing pasta and desserts. These cool-season blooms are long-lasting and bring a delightful fragrance to any dish.
15. Squash Flowers
Squash blossoms, with their mild, sweet flavor, are perfect for stuffing, deep-frying, or adding to soups and omelets. Their bright yellow petals also bring color to salads.
16. Fuchsia
Fuchsia flowers are known for their vibrant colors and intricate shape, making them a stunning garnish for fruit salads or as crystallized decorations on cakes. The petals have a mild sweetness that enhances any dish.
17. Lavender
Lavender flowers are ideal for boosting the flavor of baked goods, ice cream, and beverages. With their strong floral aroma, lavender adds a unique taste to cakes, cookies, and even cocktails. Harvest lavender just before the flowers open, and dry the buds for best use.
These 17 edible flowers offer endless possibilities for creative cooking, allowing you to enhance both the flavor and presentation of your dishes. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a beginner, growing your own edible flowers can be a fun and rewarding way to bring color and flavor to your kitchen.
