Incredible Edible Flowers!

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.

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 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 (know 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.