Incredible Edible Flowers, Tips and Tricks and How to Use Them

Edible flowers are a beautiful way to add pizzazz to your recipes! Learn all about edible flowers and how to use them.

Have you noticed that we LOVE to garnish both sweet and savory dishes with beautiful flowers? If you've ever been curious about these little beauties, this is the post for you!

Since edible flowers can be such an easy yet stunning way to add a beautiful pop of pizzazz to so many dishes, I thought I'd answer some of the most common questions regarding flowers and food.

Are all flowers edible?

No! Just like mushrooms, there are lots of varieties that are edible, those that just don't taste good and those that are actually poisonous. So it's super important to know which ones are safe for consumption.

I'm crazy about Lily of the Valley but recently discovered that they are quite toxic and can actually cause cardiac issues. Another of my favorites is delphinium, a lovely perennial with gorgeous spires of azure blooms. Again don't be deceived by its beauty, delphinium can cause serious problems. And the pretty little early spring buttercup? Definitely not safe for human consumption!

All this to say, it's important to double-check before using flowers that will be consumed. Even if you're just decorating with them (like on the tart below), it's best to always use flowers that are actually edible to ensure the safety of your family, friends and guests.

Which flowers can you eat and what do they taste like?

There are tons of edible flowers, but lots of them are very common. Some edible flowers have almost no flavor at all. Others taste similar to the way they smell.

Here's a list of some of the most common edible flowers and what they taste like:

1. Pansies are probably the most common of all edible flowers, so pretty and they come in a wide range of colors and hues. Pansies are really more showy than flavorful, but you might note a slight "grassy" taste.
2. Violets grow wild in the spring and early summer (depending on where you live) and can also be grown as a landscape perennial (known as sweet violets). Violets have a sweet, floral flavor. The whole plant is actually edible, leaves and all! However, don't confuse violets with African violets which are usually considered non-edible.
3. Johnny-Jump-Ups look like miniature pansies but have a different flavor. They have a slight "mint" flavor, some say they taste a bit like bubblegum! They're perfect on cakes or with soft mild cheese, like this Easy Goat Cheese Appetizer! Johnny-jump-ups, pansies and violets are all members of the Viola genus.
4. Marigolds, like the name says, come in shades of yellow and gold. They have a mild citrus flavor. Another bonus to marigolds? Deer are not too wild about them, and tend to leave them alone in the garden!
5. Roses are not only beautiful to look at and smell! All roses are edible, each has a delicate, slightly sweet flavor. So stop and eat the roses!
6. Honeysuckle flowers are abundant in the spring and, like the name says, have a sweet honey taste. They can be used as a pretty garnish, but also for tea, jelly, syrup and lots of other things. Check out this amazing Honeysuckle Ice Cream from my friend, Sue over at The View from Great Island! Just a note: only the flowers are edible, the berries are poisonous!
7. Chive Blossoms are a beautiful pale purple and have a mild chive taste. They're lovely in salads and you can break apart the flowers and sprinkle the tiny pretty purple petals over vegetables, eggs, soup, potato salad, etc.
8. Dandelions aren't just pesky weeds! It's fairly common knowledge that you can eat dandelion greens. But everything; the leaves, the flowers and even the roots of the dandelion plant are edible. Dandelion leaves are a bit bitter, but the flowers have a sweet flavor. Their bright, cheerful color makes a beautiful addition to salads!
9. Nasturtium is one of my favorite flowers both for displaying and eating. Nasturtiums have brightly colored red, orange and/or yellow blossoms and add a beautiful splash of color to garnish cakes, pastries, salads, soups, etc. Both the leaves and the flowers are edible and have a slightly peppery flavor a bit like arugula. The blossoms have a milder taste. Nasturtium is actually quite healthy for you too, containing a variety of minerals and have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties!
10. Cornflowers, also known as Batchelor Buttons have a sweet, spicy clove-like flavor. Their brilliant blueish-purple hue adds an eye-catching touch!
11. Campanula is one of the edible flowers I used in my Easy Goat Cheese Appetizer. It has a mild, bland flavor so it's used more for the pretty purple flowers than for added flavor. The leaves and flowers of the Campanula plant can be used in salads and as an edible garnish for lots of other dishes.
12. Candytuft, the whole plant is edible, but it is very bitter - for this reason, I use it more for decorating than as a part of a salad, dessert, etc.
13. Chamomile has gentle notes of apple with a mellow, honey-like sweetness in the cup. It also makes a really pretty indoor flower bouquet as lasts for at least a week in water.

Where do I find edible flowers?

The best way to be able to use edible flowers is to grow your own. Most edible flowers can be grown from seed and how fun to be able to walk out your door and pick a few blossoms to add a splash of fun color to your food!

You can also find edible flowers at nurseries, farmer's markets and in the produce section of some grocery stores. You'll just want to make sure that the flowers haven't been sprayed with pesticides or unsafe chemicals. Also, be sure to carefully rinse any flowers that you use to decorate your food creations!

Check with your local florist. Florists often have sources for local edible flowers.

You can also order them online. Companies like Gourmet Sweet Botanicals or Melissa's will ship them to you.

Here are some of our favorite dishes in which we have incorporated edible flowers - enjoy!

Thought for the day:

  "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.
Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire,
will he not much more clothe you-you of little faith? 
So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:28-34

What we're listening to for inspiration:

Cast All Of Your Cares

If you enjoy any of these recipes, please come back and leave a star rating and review! It's so helpful to other readers to hear your results, adaptations and ideas for variations.