Guides
Edible Flower Guide

arranging edible flowers on a kitchen counter

Edible Flower Guide

Flowers are beautiful, but edible flowers are about more than just good looks. They can also provide a fresh botanical flourish in recipes. Read on to discover an array of delicious applications for edible flowers.

Flowers, Rediscovered

You may not realize it yet, but you could already have a veritable feast of edible flowers growing in your back yard or garden. Many familiar flowers are edible, and can grace the side of your dinner plate as well as being the centerpiece of your table.

The often overlooked flowers of many herbs and vegetables are also edible. Fresh garden squash is great, but have you tried stuffed squash blossoms? Or how about chive blossoms to flavor your butter? With a bit of creativity and a new perspective, you can get the most out of the many phases of the plants in your garden.

(Did You Know) These Are Edible!

Begonia Learn More

Chive

Mint

Marigold

Nasturtium

Hibiscus

Squash

Rose Learn More

Pansy

Echinacea (Coneflower) Learn More

Dill & Fennel

Calendula Learn More

Daylilies Learn More

Dianthus (Carnation) Learn More

Thyme

• Eight Exciting Ways to Use Edible Flowers •

Flower Petal Ice Cubes

Add petals and buds to your ice cube tray to give your drinks a flowery flare!

Decorate a Cake

Either fresh or dried, a mix of blooms and buds can turn the simplest cake into a stunning centerpiece.

edible flowers arranged on cheese
DIY: Flower Petal Cheese

Learn how to transform cheese with flower petals and a few simple materials.

SEE DIY
Sprinkle Into Salads & More

In small amounts, adding petals to salads, breads, dips and appetizers can add a vibrant pop of color to your culinary creations.

DIY: Homemade Rosewater

Learn how to distill your own rosewater at home with freshly picked rose petals.

SEE DIY
Stir Fry or Stuff!

Large blooms like daylilies and squash blossoms can be stuffed with cheese or other fillings or thrown in a stir fry for a flowery twist.

Infusions

Fragrant flowers like lavender and chamomile can be used to infuse oil, simple syrup, or honey.

Preserved Flowers

Dry, candy, or press low-moisture blooms for later use.

• Harvesting Tips •

Only harvest flowers you are 100% positive are edible

Choose flowers that are grown organically.

Gather them early in the morning when their essential oils are most intense.

Remove the stamens and pistil before eating.

Consume edible flowers in moderation.

USEFUL LINKS

edible flower instagram link
INSTAGRAM INSPIRATION

Instagram is a great resource for edible flower art, recipes, and ideas. Here’s a link to one of our favorite accounts.

VISIT INSTAGRAM
garden tea party link image
GARDEN TEA PARTY

Learn how to grow a beautiful tea garden and explore recipes. The herbs and ingredients for a delicious tea party can be right at your fingertips!

VIEW PROJECT
Botanical Baking book link
BOOK
BOTANICAL BAKING

Learn how to use edible flowers and herbs to decorate your cakes and bakes with this impossibly beautiful guide from celebrity baker Juliet Sear.

SHOP
Botanical Baking book link
BOOK
CITRI COOKBOOK

An ode to citrus. Loria Stern’s first cookbook zine featuring 25 original recipes that highlight different varieties of citrus.

SHOP
foodscaping link image
FOODSCAPING WITH FLAIR

Maximize your square footage by combining Proven Harvest plants with edible flowers in your patio containers and a planter bar that is both beautiful and functional.

VIEW PROJECT
Rosalind Creasy Edible Flower Garden book link
BOOK
THE EDIBLE FLOWER GARDEN

Anyone who picks up The Edible Flower Garden will be tempted to grow, harvest, and sample at least a few of the more than forty varieties of edible flowers.

SHOP
BACK TO GARDENING GUIDES