Edible Flowers Guide

By Jerry Traunfeld, "Stop and Eat the Roses," July/August 2012

How to cook with nasturtiums, squash blossoms and more edible flowers.

More Healthy Growing Tips & Information
Easy Foods to Grow Without a Garden
Container Gardening with Salad Greens
Three Flowers to Grow for More Than Their Good Looks

Flowers are poetic, sentimental, romantic and ephemeral. And some of them taste good too. Azure-blue sage blossoms carry the aroma of the leaf, but softer and sweeter: just the thing to sprinkle over green peas. Blazing orange nasturtiums have a peppery bite and will dazzle any salad. At my restaurant in Seattle, Poppy, I find that cooking with flowers can add color and unique flavor to any meal. My kitchen garden is packed with delicious, delicate blossoms: pink globes of chive, hearty kale flowers, edible ornamentals like violets or lavender. It’s a pleasure to bring such beauty to my table.

Bear in mind that not all flowers are edible. Some are quite poisonous, so do your research first. Don’t eat florist flowers—they are often loaded with pesticides. Whatever you pick, be ready to be surprised by the delicate flavors you create. As with gardening, the miracle is always in what blooms.

Next: Tips for How to Use Edible Flowers »