A Basic Guide
to Edible Flowers
Provided
by OFA - an Association of Floriculture Professionals (www.ofa.org)
You might be surprised
to learn that some flowers are edible, and delicious! You can add color
to your dinner plate by following these simple tips to safe consumption
of flowers:
Ten Tips
for Eating Flowers
1. Eat flowers
only when you are positive they are edible.
2. Just because
it is served with food does not mean a flower is edible (see Rule 1).
3. Eat only
flowers that have been grown organically.
4. Do not
eat flowers from florists, nurseries, or garden centers (see Rule 3).
5. If you
have hay fever, asthma, or allergies, do not eat flowers.
6. Do not
eat flowers picked from the side of the road. They could be contaminated
from car emissions (see Rule 3).
7. Remove
pistils and stamens from flowers before eating. Eat only the petals.
8. Not
all flowers are edible. Some are poisonous.
9. There
are many varieties of any one flower. Flowers taste different when grown
in different locations.
10. Introduce
flowers into your diet the way you would new foods to a baby – one at
a time in small quantities.
Top
Ten Edible Flowers
Calendula
Chives
Daylily
Mint
Nasturtium
Pansy
Rose
Sage
Signet Marigold
Squash Blossoms
Other Edible Flowers and Herbs
Anise Hyssop
Arugula
Basil
Bee Balm
Borage
Broccoli
Chamomile
Chicory
Chrysanthemum
Coriander
Dandelion
Dianthus
Dill
Elderberry
English Daisy
Fennel
Hibiscus
Honeysuckle
Jasmine
Johnny-Jump-Up
Lavender
Lemon
Lilac
Marjoram
Mustard
Orange
Pineapple Sage
Red Clover
Redbud
Rose of Sharon
Rosemary
Safflower
Scented Geranium
Sunflower
Sweet Woodruff
Thyme
Tuberous Begonia
Tulip
Violet
Winter Savory
Yucca
