Gardening can be a fulfilling hobby, whether you’re growing plants for their aesthetic appeal or for their practical uses. For those looking to combine beauty with utility, certain flowers offer the best of both worlds—adding vibrant color to your landscape while being edible. Incorporating edible flowers into your garden can enhance the look of your space and provide fresh ingredients for salads, teas, desserts, and more.
In this article, we’ll explore 8 common flowers that are not only beautiful but can also be safely consumed. They’re perfect for people who enjoy a decorative yet functional garden. Here are the top choices:
1. Nasturtium
Nasturtiums are a favorite among gardeners for their bright, vibrant blooms. They come in an array of warm colors like yellow, orange, and red, making them perfect for creating a cheerful landscape. The plant also has attractive, round leaves that add texture and visual interest. Nasturtiums are easy to grow and can thrive in poor soil, making them a low-maintenance addition to any garden.
Culinary Uses
Both the leaves and flowers of nasturtiums are edible. The leaves have a slightly peppery taste, similar to arugula, while the flowers are milder with a sweet, spicy flavor. Nasturtiums are often used in salads or as garnishes for various dishes. They can also be stuffed with cheese or added to sandwiches for a burst of color and flavor.
Growing Tips
Nasturtiums grow best in full sun and well-draining soil. They can be planted in flower beds, hanging baskets, or even containers. Be sure to water them regularly, but avoid over-watering, as they prefer drier conditions.
2. Calendula
Known as the “pot marigold,” calendula adds a splash of sunshine to any garden. Its bright yellow or orange flowers bloom throughout the growing season, making it a reliable choice for a vibrant landscape. Calendula’s flowers resemble daisies and are perfect for borders, containers, or as a filler in flower beds.Â
Culinary Uses
Calendula petals are edible and are often used as a natural food dye or a substitute for saffron in certain recipes. The petals have a slightly bitter, tangy flavor and are often added to salads, soups, or rice dishes. You can also use them to garnish desserts or to infuse oils for medicinal use.
Growing Tips
Calendula thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers well-drained soil. It’s a hardy plant that can tolerate cooler temperatures, making it a great option for early spring or late fall gardens. Deadheading spent flowers will encourage continuous blooming.
3. Pansy
Pansies are beloved for their bright and multicolored blooms, which range from deep purples and blues to yellows and whites. They are often used to create bold borders or to brighten up containers and hanging baskets. Their unique, velvety petals can bring life to your garden year-round in some climates.
Culinary Uses
Pansy flowers have a mild, fresh taste and are most often used to decorate salads, desserts, or drinks. Their delicate petals can be crystallized with sugar to create beautiful cake decorations. They are also popular as garnishes for appetizers or cocktails.
Growing Tips
Pansies thrive in cooler temperatures and partial shade, making them ideal for spring and fall gardens. They grow best in rich, well-draining soil. Regular watering and deadheading will ensure consistent blooms.
4. Borage
Borage is an herbaceous plant with star-shaped, bright blue flowers that attract bees and other pollinators. The plant’s silvery-green foliage provides a nice contrast to the vibrant blooms. Borage is perfect for adding vertical interest to your garden, as it can grow up to two feet tall.
Culinary Uses
Borage flowers have a mild cucumber-like taste and are often used to flavor drinks, salads, or desserts. They can be frozen in ice cubes for a refreshing summer drink or used as a garnish in cocktails. The leaves are also edible, although they have a rough texture and are typically used in soups or teas.
Growing Tips
Borage grows best in full sun and well-draining soil. It’s a drought-tolerant plant, but regular watering will keep it healthy. Borage can self-seed easily, so it’s a great choice if you want a long-lasting flower in your garden.
5. Marigold
Marigolds are bright and cheerful flowers that can enhance any landscape. Available in shades of orange, yellow, and red, they are excellent for borders, garden beds, and containers. Marigolds are also known for their pest-repelling qualities, making them a functional plant in vegetable gardens.
Culinary Uses
Marigold petals are edible and have a slightly tangy, citrus-like flavor. They are often used as a garnish or to add color to salads, rice, and pasta dishes. Marigold petals are also used in some cultures to flavor teas or as a coloring agent for soups and stews.
Growing Tips
Marigolds are easy to grow and prefer full sun and well-drained soil. They are drought-tolerant and can thrive even in poor soil. Regular deadheading will encourage more blooms and keep your plants looking vibrant throughout the growing season.
6. Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemums, or mums, are classic fall flowers that come in a wide range of colors, including red, yellow, white, and pink. Their bushy blooms add texture and color to garden beds and borders. Mums are often used in landscaping as a late-season bloomer when many other flowers have finished their cycle.
Culinary Uses
Chrysanthemum petals are edible, although some varieties are more palatable than others. The petals have a slightly bitter taste and are often used in teas, salads, or as a garnish. In Chinese cuisine, chrysanthemum flowers are used to infuse flavor into soups and teas.
Growing Tips
Chrysanthemums prefer full sun and rich, well-drained soil. They require regular watering and benefit from being divided every few years to prevent overcrowding. Planting them in late summer or early fall will ensure blooms during the cooler months.
7. Lavender
Lavender is known for its fragrant, purple spikes that attract pollinators like bees and butterflies. It adds a soft, romantic feel to garden beds, borders, and containers. Lavender is particularly popular in cottage-style gardens or Mediterranean-inspired landscapes.
Culinary Uses
Lavender flowers are often used in baking, with a sweet, floral flavor that complements desserts like cookies, cakes, and ice creams. Lavender can also be used to flavor teas, cocktails, and savory dishes, particularly when paired with herbs like rosemary and thyme.
Growing Tips
Lavender prefers full sun and well-draining, slightly alkaline soil. It’s drought-tolerant once established but requires good air circulation to prevent mold or mildew. Pruning lavender after it flowers will encourage new growth and keep the plant looking tidy.
8. Violet
Violets are small, low-growing flowers with delicate purple or white blooms. They work well as ground cover or in shaded areas where other plants might struggle. Their charming, simple flowers add a pop of color to shaded garden corners or woodland-style gardens.
Culinary Uses
Violet flowers are sweet and fragrant, often used to decorate cakes, salads, or drinks. The petals can also be candied and used as a garnish. Violets have a mild flavor that pairs well with fruit-based desserts or light, refreshing salads.
Growing Tips
Violets prefer partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. They can thrive in both garden beds and containers and are relatively easy to care for. Water them regularly, especially during dry spells, to ensure healthy growth.