Grow a garden that's not only full of vibrant and colorful plants, but also includes edible flowers. This post shares 10 edible flowers that you can add to your garden as well as your plate! Brew them as tea, add them to salads, and more!
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At the end of the growing season last year, I removed the pollinator flowers in our vegetable garden. I planted them in their own little pollinator section of the yard. Then, I decided that our garden would solely be used for growing vegetables. We're able to grow a few new veggie varieties this year with that extra space.
I wanted to expand the edible plants outside of our garden as well. I have two large planters filled with herbs along one side of our garden. On another side, I've added individual pots of herbs (plus, one new planted pot of chickpeas that will hopefully sprout soon).
But it's not just the herbs and vegetables in our garden that are edible. Some of our flowers are, too. It's like I joked to my husband, "cause if the grocery prices get any higher, we're gonna have to start eating the flowers!"
Edible Flowers to Grow in Your Garden
I wanted to experiment with different types of edible plants this year. So along with the basics, I've thrown in some chickpeas, quinoa, and flowers that are not only beautiful, but edible, too. Think herbaceous perennials and pollinator plants that are not only beneficial to our backyard wildlife, but good for us as well!
Nasturtiums
If you're going to branch out into edible flowers this year in your garden, Nasturtiums are at the top of my list! I grew them from seed this year and they're really starting to take off. They have small leaves that look like little lily pads and yellow, red, and orange flowers.
The best part is that every bit of this plant is edible down to the seeds! While I've never eaten Nasturtiums before, I plan on doing so this year. They apparently have a peppery flavor and, when pickled, the young green seeds can be used like capers. Definitely something I'll be trying!
Pansies
You'll see pansies all over greenhouses and gardens this time of year for their color and charming look. I've tried them once - a long time ago - in a salad, I believe. I don't remember the flavor, but it's said to taste like wintergreen. The flowers can be candied, too, to place on top of cakes and other desserts for a really pretty touch! I've also added them to cheeseboards.
Roses
The slightly floral, kind of fruity petals from your rose bush are totally edible! The petals can also be candied. Use them in salads, cook them into jams, or steep them to drink as an herbal tea. You can also make your own rosewater.
Calendula
Calendula is a powerhouse of a flower! It can grow in poor soil conditions and its petals are commonly used for medicinal purposes as well as skincare. I like to use the dried petals in my simmer pot kits, bath salts, and even some of the decor in my shop.
But did you know that these flowers are also edible?
Anise hyssop
Anise hyssop is on my plant wish list this year. It's a native perennial that adds color and height to the garden. It's good for pollinators and also edible for us. Anise hyssop is described as having a licorice-mint flavor with an anise finish.
You can add the leaves to salads or infuse it in oils and jams. It can be added into baked goods. And if I find this plant, I plan on making a lot of tea with it!
Feverfew
Feverfew is also on this year's plant wish list. It's mainly used for its medicinal properties (helping with fevers, headaches, and migraines). The small, daisy-like flowers that make up this plant are edible as well.
Even though Feverfew is edible, its said to have a bitter flavor. So it's best to be used when masked with other flavors and ingredients.
Pineapple Sage
Pineapple Sage is another plant on my wish list this year. While I mainly want to grow it to try to attract hummingbirds to our yard, like common sage, this plant is totally edible. Its tubular, red flowers attract pollinators while the leaves give off a pineapple fragrance. The leaves taste more earthy and herbal than pineapple though.
The leaves can be used to make tea and infused sugar. Add it to salad or use the flowers to garnish drinks.
Sunflowers
Obviously we know that sunflower seeds are edible. But did you know that you can roast, or grill, a sunflower head and basically eat it like corn? Apparently this was a viral TikTok recipe trend that I missed. And if I wasn't so into saving the seeds to use in my garden and for the birds, I might give it a try myself.
I also just found out that the flower petals are edible, too. Said to have a bittersweet and nutty flavor, the raw petals are a fresh addition to salads and soups.
Hibiscus
This beautiful, tropical flower is most commonly used as a tea. The tea is beneficial for immune support, cholesterol levels, and lowering blood pressure. It's kind of tangy, but not off-putting. The dried flower petals can also be used in baking. And if you want to use the leaves, they can be added to salads or cooked and eaten like spinach.
Dianthus
Dianthus, like carnations, look so pretty in the garden. They have a spicy-sweet, clove-like flavor that can be used for decorating cakes, mixed into fruit salad, or even added to ice cream (thinking these flowers + vanilla bean ice cream might be nice).
To use them, cut the petals away from the white base. The base of the flower is bitter so you wouldn't want to use that.
Plant Safety Tip for Edible Flowers
If you're planning on adding any of these plants to your garden for edible uses, please make sure you're using pesticide-free plants. You don't want to eat anything that's been treated with chemicals. Instead of the big box garden centers, opt to purchase edible plants from local farms and greenhouses.
Also, make sure you know what you're eating before you dive into edible plants. If you need help, you can find resources online, in books, or just add your local farm to direct you to the edible flowers they have available.
Photo credits: Pixabay, Pexels, iStock, and Unsplash
