List of Edible Herbs & Flowers
When cooking with natural ingredients such as flowers or herbs not
readily available in grocery stores or markets, it is important to know
which are okay to eat and which are toxic.
Of the flowers and herbs listed below, it is important to know that not
all parts of the plant can be eaten. Some parts, including leaves or
roots, can be mildly toxic. Eating the toxic parts can cause discomfort,
sickness, or worse.
EDIBLE HERBS AND FLOWERS
- A -
Acacia
Agastache, especially long-tubed pink to yellow ones
Almond blossoms
Alyssum
Apple blossoms
- B -
Bachelor button - AKA Cornflower (Centaurea cyanis) - petals
Banana
Beans (phaseolus) - Lab Lab Bean flower is nicer than the bean!
Begonia (Tuberous begonia)
Betony
Borage - Has a mild cucumber flavour; often used in alcoholic drinks
Broom
Burdock
- C -
Carnation
Chamomile - usually made into calming tea - make to taste, start by
using only 3-4 fresh flowers per cup
Chrysanthemum
Citrus - Lemon, lime or orange blossoms
Clover
Coriander
Costmary
Cowslips
- D -
Daisy petals (Bellis perrenis)
Dianthus - Clove Pinks once used to flavor wine
- E -
Elderberry (sambucus)
English primroses
- F -
Feijoa
- G -
Geraniums
Gladiolus
- H -
Hawthorne
Herbs, asst. - inlcudes bergamot, fennel, oregano, mints, anise, hyssop,
chive (flowers in second year), basil etc.
Hibiscus flowers
Hollyhock (Alcea) also Marshmallow
Honeysuckle (lonicera)
Hyacinth
- J -
Jasmine (sambac and officinalis) are the best varieties. Do not use any
with white sap
Johnny jump-up
- L -
Lavender - each variety will give a different flavour (Parfait Amour is
a lavender-flavoured liqueur)
Lilac (syringia)
Lotus
- M -
Marigolds - some varieties are better than others, especially pot
marigold and tagetes, including "Mexican Tarragon" with its very nice
aniseed tarragon flavor.
- N -
Nasturtium
- O -
Orange blossoms
Osmanthus fragrans "Sweet Olive" (used in tea in China)
- P -
Pansy
- S -
Sage (salvia officinalis) also Clary Sage, Sage Pineapple and Fruity
Sage
Snapdragon
Society Garlic (Tulbaghia)
Squash blossoms
Squash or Zuccinni blossoms - often served stuffed
St. John's Wort
Sunflower - buds
Sweet Williams (Dianthus barbatus)
Sweet Woodruff - Usually used in drinks - dried it has a wonderful
vanilla fragrance
- T -
Tansy - often used in Elizabethan times, but either my cooking is bad or
they were desperate
Tulips
- V -
Violets
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