Edible Flowers
My flower garden is beautiful this year. I think I'll eat it! Those probably aren't the words you'd think I'd say about a beautiful flower garden, but they are true. Many of the most attractive flowers in the summer garden are edible. You just have to know which ones to pick and how to do it.
Favorite Edible Flowers
Not all flowers are edible so you have to be careful which ones your choose. It's best to get familiar with a handful of flowers and stick with those. Here are my top 5.
- Daylilies- These perennial babies are in full bloom in my garden right now. The flower bud and petals are delicious. They have a slight crunch and summer squash-like flavor. They're great in salads. The dried buds are often used in Chinese stir fries. If you have too many of those tawny orange colored, wild daylilies in your neighborhood, go on a hunt and invite your friends.
- Nasturtiums- This annual flower either mounds or climbs depending on the variety. The flower colors range from white to red and the leaves and flowers are edible. They have a peppery, hot flavor. It's a great way to perk up a salad.
- Pansies/Violas- Although not in bloom in mid summer, these flowers are still a treat in spring and fall. They are colorful, small, and easy to use. The flavor is sweet.
- Bee balm- Monarda flowers are used to make tea, but they are edible in their own right. This perennial has white, pink, or red flowers depending on the variety and has a citrusy flavor.
- Calendula- This annual flower has white or yellow flowers depending on the variety. The petals break apart and can be used to decorate a salad or cake. The flavor is tangy and the plants floriferous.
Gathering flowers
Here's a few tips on gathering flowers. Pick them in the morning or late afternoon when the flavor is most intense. Pick unopenend buds or newly opened flowers for the best flavor. Never pick from plants that have been sprayed with pesticides. The perennials I mentioned are prolific so have many flowers and you won't miss a few if you pick them. The annuals produce more flowers when picked, so munch away.
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