Skip to main content

Growing and keeping edible flowers

Often, when we think about edible plants, we think of eating the fruits, roots, and leaves of the plants. Flowers are beautiful, but they’re mostly used for decoration. That doesn’t have to be the case, though! If you’ve ever been curious about edible flowers, here is some basic information so that you can have your garden and eat it, too.

Which flowers are edible?

There are a lot of edible flowers, so it’s important to do research on any particular flower you have before eating it. Some of the most common edible flowers are: Roses, clover, dandelions, daisies, hibiscus, lavender, lilac, mums, honeysuckle, nasturtium, marigolds, pansies, carnations, gladiolus, sunflowers, kudzu, and violets. Orchids are edible, but some varieties have been known to cause indigestion.

Recommended Videos

Never eat a flower unless you are absolutely certain what it is and what it will do to you. It’s also important to only eat flowers that you know haven’t been sprayed with any chemicals, as pesticides can make you sick. You also want to make sure that you try flowers slowly at first, in case you have an allergic reaction. You should always wash the petals before you eat them, but this is doubly true if you have pollen allergies. If you have severe allergies, you may want to consult with your doctor before eating flowers.

How long do edible flowers last in the fridge?

When stored properly, edible flowers can last four to six days in the fridge. Flowers don’t last as long as other foods because they don’t have any peel or rind to protect themselves. Flowers are kept alive through their connection to the stem and have very little reserve energy, so once they’re separated from the stem they die quickly.

To store your flowers in the fridge, remove the stamen and pistols in the center, then carefully wash the petals. In order to keep your edible flowers fresh, put them in an airtight container and use them as quickly as possible.

Lavender flowers against pink sky
Janine Joles / Unsplash

If you need your flowers to last a little longer, you can leave them on the plant and only pick and prepare them when you’re ready to use them. This is recommended, since flowers spoil so quickly.

You can also harvest them with the stem as cut flowers. This is easier for flowers with long stems, such as roses, but it can be done with any flower. Place the stems in a container of fresh water, and they can last seven to 12 days. If your flowers start to wilt, cut the end of the stem off and replace the water with fresh water.

What can I do with edible flowers?

There are a variety of recipes available for edible flowers and countless ways to personalize or experiment with them. Flowers can have wildly different tastes, so don’t be afraid to try different combinations! Lavender and violets are sweet, while nasturtium has a stronger, more peppery flavor.

Many edible flowers can be eaten raw, although the flavor and texture can be off-putting for some. Jams are one excellent way to use your flowers. Dandelions, lavender, lilac, and violets are the top flowers, but not the only flowers, for jams and jellies.

You can also eat fried flowers. Fried kudzu blossoms and fried zucchini blossoms both have a distinct and interesting flavor. Tea is another option. Roses make a light, floral tea, while hibiscus makes a tea with a richer flavor.

A tray of white cookies with violets

You can candy your flowers, making them into beautiful, sweet decorations for cakes or other desserts. Another dessert you can make with them is ice cream. Lavender ice cream is delicious and pairs well with white chocolate. If you’re over the legal drinking age, try adding some flowers into your favorite cocktail. You can even pickle flowers, if you’re in an adventurous mood.

Can you grow edible flowers?

Lilac blossom next to and in coffee

Yes, you absolutely can grow edible flowers! In fact, edible flowers are better if you grow them yourself. This is partly because things taste better that way, but mainly because you can be certain that there were no chemicals used on them.

Most of the examples listed above are edible flowers you can grow easily, with very little instruction. Roses can be a touch finicky but aren’t impossible to grow, and lilacs can get up to 15 feet tall, so make sure you have plenty of room for them. Consider how much sun and shade your garden gets, what type of soil you have, and how much rain you typically get when picking out flowers. Don’t forget that you can also grow flowers in pots, so don’t get too discouraged if your favorite edible flower’s preferences don’t match up with your garden.

The only edible flower you can’t grow is kudzu. Kudzu is invasive and extremely aggressive, taking over large areas quickly.

Edible flowers are a fantastic way to add color and fun to your meals. There are tons of different flowers, all with different tastes and uses. Don’t be afraid to explore your options and try out some new recipes! Just remember not to eat anything unless you know what it is and where it came from.

Cayla Leonard
Cayla Leonard is a writer from North Carolina who is passionate about plants.  She enjoys reading and writing fiction and…
6 delightful lenten rose varieties to add to your garden
These hellebore flowers will create a beautiful white splash to your garden space
Pink hellebore flowers

Lenten roses, also known as hellebore, are beautiful, delicate-looking flowers that come in many colors and patterns. As shade-loving flowers, they’re particularly useful for brightening up darker sections of your garden. Whether you want a classic solid purple variety or a more intricate spotted one, there’s a perfect lenten rose for any garden. These gorgeous and elegant flowers are versatile and surprisingly easy to grow. If you want to add one to your home or garden, then you're in luck! Here are six of our favorite lenten rose varieties for you to consider growing.
Fire and Ice

Fire and Ice is a stunning white and pink variety from the Winter Jewels series. Each petal is predominantly white, but the edges are a vibrant shade of pink. It has double-petaled flowers, meaning there are two layers of petals, giving the blooms a fuller appearance. Fire and Ice grows to around a foot and a half tall and is an early-blooming lenten rose. While hellebore are generally among the earliest blooming spring flowers, Fire and Ice often blooms during winter.
Janet Starnes

Read more
Plant these compact, small flowers if you’re short on garden space
Grow these little flowers for a small but beautiful garden
Forget-me-not flowers

Many people dream of large, sprawling gardens bursting with flowers. However, that type of garden isn’t right for everyone. Whether you’re low on space, prefer smaller flowers, or just need some little flowers to mix with your larger ones, you'll be happy to know that there are plenty of options for you to choose from when planning a garden of little flowers. To help you get started, here are five of our favorite little flowers for you to consider adding to your home or garden.
Forget-me-nots

Forget-me-nots, also known as scorpion grass, are sweet little flowers. They’re classically pale blue, but can also be light pink or white. These flowers typically only grow to heights of around 5 inches and can grow in small clumps for a more full appearance. They prefer moist, well-draining soil, but can develop mildew if the soil becomes waterlogged.
Lily of the valley

Read more
Square foot gardening: The easiest way to maximize small spaces
Tips on starting your own garden with this new method
Raised garden beds with wooden walls, surrounded by bug nets

Gardening is a rewarding and relaxing hobby, but it sure can take up a lot of space. From towering trees to sprawling English gardens, there are many ways to design and fill a garden if you have plenty of space. What if you don’t have much room, though? If your yard is small, or if it’s already full of other plants, then you might be looking for a way to maximize your garden while minimizing the space it takes up. One recent trend that can help with this is square foot gardening. If you’re not familiar with what a square foot garden is, we’ll break down the basics for you.
What is square foot gardening?

Square foot gardening is a method of growing more plants in less space by dividing a garden bed into equal sections of one square foot each. The number of plants you grow in each square depends on the size of the plants. The rule for square foot gardening is 1 extra-large plant per square, or 4 large plants, or 9 medium plants, or 16 small plants. The largest plants, such as spreading vines like watermelons or taller plants like corn or trees, should not grow using this method, as they take up too much room.

Read more