The BEST Edible Flowers to Grow

Growing Edible Flowers can be a wonderful and rewarding experience for novice and seasoned gardeners. These vibrant blooms add a burst of color to your garden and offer a culinary dimension to your meals.

If you’re looking for more ideas for the garden, the 35 Best Cottage Flowers to Grow and How to Create a Tea Garden will help you on your gardening journey.

The Best Guide to Edible Flowers - Salad with Edible Flowers — The Best Guide to Edible Flowers

From the delicate petals of nasturtiums, with their peppery taste, to the sweet and aromatic lavender buds, there is a wide variety of edible flowers to choose from.

To successfully cultivate these floral delicacies, ensuring the plants have the right amount of sun and well-draining soil will help you grow flowers successfully.

Choosing flowers you can grow without pesticides is also an important part of an edible garden.

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Here are the Best Edible Flowers to Grow

Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)

Edible Flower Garden - Chamomile — Edible Flower Garden – Chamomile Flowers

Chamomile flowers are renowned for their soothing properties in herbal teas. They have an apple-like flavor and are used to make chamomile tea, known for its calming effects. These beautiful flowers are also a perfect choice to decorate cakes and pastries.

Chive Blossoms (Allium schoenoprasum)

Chive blossoms have a mild onion flavor, making them an excellent garnish for savory dishes. They are the perfect addition salads, omelets, or as a flavorful addition to compound butter.

Dandelions (Taraxacum)

Edible Flowers - Dandelions — Edible Flowers – Dandelions

Dandelions are a common backyard edible with a slightly bitter taste. You can add them to salads and to make dandelion wine. Dandelion petals are also fried to create a unique, crispy snack.

Elderflowers (Sambucus nigra)

Edible Flowers - Elderflowers — Edible Flowers – Elderflowers

Elderflowers have a delicate, floral flavor and are used to make elderflower cordial, syrups, and sparkling beverages like elderflower champagne. They are also popular in fritters and desserts.

Lavender (Lavandula)

Edible Flowers - Lavender — Edible Flowers – Lavender

Lavender is used in culinary applications to infuse dishes with a subtle floral flavor and is known for its fragrant, calming scent.

It pairs wonderfully with sweets like cookies and cakes, and lavender’s purple buds will make a soothing tea when steeped.

Lilac (Syringa vulgaris)

Edible Garden Flowers - Lilacs — Edible Garden Flowers – Lilacs

Lilac flowers have a mild, lemony taste and add a subtle floral note to salads and desserts. The blossoms also make lilac-flavored syrups and jellies.

Marigolds or Calendula (Tagetes erecta)

Edible Flowers - Marigolds — Edible Flowers – Marigolds

Marigold petals are known for their earthy and slightly citrusy flavor. They are commonly used in soups, salads, and as a colorful addition to rice dishes.

Calendula petals also have potential medicinal properties and are used in herbal medicines.

How to Save Marigold Seeds

Are Marigolds Edible? + Marigold Recipes

Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus)

Edible Flowers - Nasturtium Flowers — Edible Flowers – Nasturtium Flowers

Nasturtiums have vibrant, peppery blossoms adding a zesty kick to salads and savory dishes. They come in various colors, from fiery oranges to rich yellows, making them a flavorful and visually appealing choice for garnishes.

Rose Petals (Rosa rubiginosa)

Edible Flowers - Rose Petals — Edible Flowers – Rose Petals

Delicate and sweet, rose petals have been used for centuries to enhance the flavor and appearance of food and beverages. They are often used in desserts, like rose-petal jam, or crystallized for cake decorations.

31 Secrets to Growing Roses

Violas (genus Viola)

Edible Flowers - Making Candied Violas — Edible Flowers – Making Candied Violas

Violas have a sweet, floral taste and are often used to garnish desserts and salads. Their striking purple, blue, or white petals make them a favorite choice for decorative touches on cakes and pastries.

10 Tips on Growing Violas

What to do with Edible Flowers

Create a vibrant salad with a mix of colorful blooms like nasturiums, pansies, and violets.

Edible Flower Garden - Lavender Honey — Edible Flower Garden – Lavender Honey

Infuse honey with edible flowers like lavender or rose petals for a unique sweetener.

Edible Flowers - Floral Ice Cubes — Edible Flowers – Floral Ice Cubes

Make floral ice cubes by placing small edible flowers in an ice tray, adding a touch of elegance to your drinks.

Edible Flowers - Chamomile Tea — Edible Flowers – Chamomile Tea

Brew floral teas using chammomile, hibiscus, or calendula.

Edible Flower Ideas - Floral Desserts — Edible Flower Ideas – Floral Desserts

Garnish desserts like cakes, cupcakes, or ice cream with delicate edible flowers for an exquisite touch.
Create floral simple syrups by simmering flowers like elderberry or jasmine with sugar and water, perfect for cocktails and soda.
Make floral-infused vinegars using flowers like chive blossoms or nasturiums.
Bake edible flower focaccia by decorating the dough with colorful blooms before baking.
Prepare flower-studded butter by mixing edible flowers into softened butter for a fragrant spread.
Craft floral-flavored popcicles using edible flowers for a refreshing summer treat.
Create visually stunning edible flower sushi rolls with colorful petals in the rice.
Make a floral-infused olive oil by steeping flowers like basil or rosemary in high-quality oil.
Bake edible shortbread cookies for a delicate and aromatic dessert.
Prepare a floral-scented rice pudding using jasmine or orange blossom flowers.
Brew a floral lemonade using petals like dandelions or pansies for a unique twist on a classic drink.
Create a floral-infused yogurt by mixing flower petals into Greek yogurt.
Make a colorful flower and herb omelet by folding edible flowers into beaten eggs before cooking.
Create a cheese board with floral accents by pairing cheese with edible flowers like marigolds or borage.
Make floral-flavored homemade marshmallows using rosewater or violet extract.
Prepare floral-scented spa water by placing edible flowers in a pitcher of cold water for a refreshing and visually appealing drink.