BE AWARE Begonias for Breakfast? Daylilies at Dinner? Never eat that come from a florist or Snapdragons for a Snack? those that are purchased as cut flowers. They are likely to have been treated with Edible flowers add color, elegance, chemicals unfit for consumption. and flavor to meals. Additionally, make sure to harvest from While some flowers, such as pansies and gardens that have not been treated with toxic calendula, are better for than for herbicides, pesticides, or other chemicals. their flavors, some edible recipes

stand on their own in a meal. Squash blossoms are delicious stuffed with cheese and sautéed, nasturtium, kale, and arugula flowers make a zesty blend, and candied or lilac flowers are a delightful treat. These are just a few ideas. Expand your culinary and Unless they are labeled as having been horticultural horizons, and add some grown specifically for edible use, it’s best to edible flowers to your garden and to your wait a few months after planting to eat next meal! flowers from starts bought at a retail nursery. Our plants come from a variety of vendors who use different treatments for growing their plants. Unless specifically labeled as edible we cannot guarantee they are fit for Colorful Culinary consumption. Inspiration! For more information and recipes, Questions? Please ask at our Information Desk. check out these resources:

The Edible Flower Garden by Rosalind Creasy : The Complete Gardener’s Guide by Patrick Lima The Bountiful Container by Marie Nichols McGee and Maggie Stuckey Plants For a Future, pfaf.org Online database of edible and medicinal plants Edible Flowers to Grow at Home Hibiscus (Rose of Sharon, Roselle) H. Sweet Cicely, Myrrhis odorata spp., H. sabdariffa Sweet licorice flavor Anise Hyssop, Agastache spp. Used to make tangy Jamaica tea Sweet Alyssum , Lobularia maritima Licorice flavor, great for tea Hollyhock, Alcea rosea Clusters of -scented blooms Apple blossom, spp. Lovely flowers in a range of colors Tulip, Tulipa spp. Nice floral flavor Honeysuckle, Lonicera japonica Caution: may cause allergic reaction Bachelor Button, Centaurea cyanus Sweet. Eat only the “japonica” species Yucca, Yucca spp. Colorful addition to Jasmine, Jasminum officinalis Sweet, floral taste Bee Balm, Bergamot, Monarda spp. A nice addition to green tea Minty- flavor, great for tea Lilac, Syringa vulgaris Begonia—tuberous, Begonia spp. Sweet, floral flavor Herbs: The flowers of all culinary herbs are Tart flavor. Use only Tuberous Begonias Marigold, Tagetes spp. edible, including borage, catnip, chamomile, , hyssop, lavender, lemon balm, lemon Calendula, Slightly bitter; try ‘Gem’ or ‘Signet’ Sometimes used as a substitute Meadowsweet, Filipendula ulmeria verbena, mints, etc. Cherry blossom, Prunus spp. Ancient with a sweet, nutty flavor : most veggie flowers are edible. Beautiful but astringent tasting Mullein, Verbascum spp. Notable for flavor are flowers from squash, Makes a soothing tea and those of the Brassica family (broccoli, Chrysanthemum, C. spp. cauliflower, kale, mustard greens, etc.) Makes a slightly bitter tea Nasturtium, Trapaeolum majus Citrus blossom, Citrus spp. Wonderful peppery flavor Caution: Never eat the flowers from Nice citrusy, floral flavor Pansy, Viola, Violet, Viola spp. asparagus or those of the nightshade family, Lovely addition to soups and salads such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, Clover, red, Trifolium praetense tomatillos, and potatoes. A nutritious addition to salads Passionflower, Passiflora spp. Makes a relaxing tea While some plants on this list do have edible Daylily, Hemerocallis spp. leaves, roots, or fruits, this list refers only to Sweet, slightly earthy flavor Pineapple Guava, Feijoa sellowiana Delicious tropical flavor the flowers and no other part of the plant as Dianthus, (Pinks, Sweet William) D. spp. being edible. Never eat any flower you Adds a wonderful spicy fragrance Plum, prunes, Prunus domestica cannot identify with absolute certainty! English Daisy, Bellis perennis Similar to Cherry blossoms Cute addition to salads Redbud, Cercis canadensis, C. siliquestrum Elderberry, Sambucus canadensis Slightly tart flavor Eat only the flowers raw, berries must be cooked Rose, Rosa spp. Fuchsia, Fuchsia spp. The more fragrant the flower, the better Exotic-looking flowers; berries are spicy Snapdragon, Anthirrhinum majus Geranium—scented, Pelargonium spp. Slightly bitter, nice garnish Available in a multitude of flavors and scents