Edible Flowers

     Warning!: Make sure you positively identify each flower before eating. There may be flowers that look similar, or are of the same family that are not edible or are even poisonous! Do your own research on a plant before eating it, just to be safe.

     As the season for gardens starts to roll around again, I have been thinking of creating my own small garden in pots. As a first time gardener I love the idea of being able to grow my own food. At the same time however, I also love the idea of a decorative garden as well. This led me to the idea of edible flowers.

     There are quite a few edible flowers out there that would be a great addition to a garden. They add color and beauty to a garden, as well as a being a draw from pollinating insects. This makes sure that your vegetable plants get the pollination they need to actual produce and grow whatever vegetable you are trying to get.

     Another thing that came to mind, is that because flowers are often seen as simply ornament plants, flowers can act as a colorful and decorative element to your gardens, and help give them some camoflague. People generally don't expect a garden with flowers to also contain vegetables. So if you are interested in camoflaging your vegetable gardens in plain sight, adding flowers is a great way to do that. It creates a garden that looks decorative, and can be enjoyed that way, but also has the functional elements that we want in a survival garden.

     Always use home grown flowers, not store bought flowers because of the chemicals that are sprayed on the flowers that you find in stores. With your own flowers it is still a good idea to wash them before using them.

     When picking edible flowers, it is always best to pick them in the morning, when their water conent is high to help the flower have its best taste. Also pick them on the day that you want to use them because the flower will not last. To prepare a flower to go in a dish or even just to act as a garnish you will want to remove the pistils, stamens and seeds beacuse they tend to taste quite bitter.

     With those few tips in mind, here our some of our favorite edible flowers:

Borage: With its small brilliant blue flowers, it creates a perfect decorative element to your garden. This can then be transfered to the dishes in your kitchen. With a light cucumber flavor it would work very well in salads.

Caledula: With its vibrant yellow to orange color it will stand out in your garden. Often called the poor man's saffron, it will lend its spicy, tangy peppery taste well to your food, as well as add a golden hue to your dishes.

Chamomile: This bright cheerful flower is a great one to have in your garden and can easily be created into a tea. Chamomile tea can act as a mild seditive, helping with sleep at the end of a long day, or simply as a peaceful calming drink in between hectic moments.

Dandelion: Generally considered a pesky weed, this flower is actually completely edible from its leaves to its flowers. The young buds fried in butter taste similar to a mushroom, and dandelions can be used to make a potent wine.

Gladiolus: With a sweet light flavor, these flowers can be added to salads or desserts, or used as a garnish with almost any meal. Meanwhile, in your garden they create a beautiful riot of color, in almost any shade you would like.

Roses: With their sweet aromatic flavor, these are wonderful flower to have in the garden. They are also wonderful in the kitchen, and are great in desserts. They are especially good when candied, or drizzled in honey.



Snapdragons: These beautiful plants will look magnificent in your garden and on your table. They have a bland slightly bitter taste, and so could work well in salads to add a contrasting taste to sweet lettuce.

Squash Blossoms: With beautful flowers they will look lovely in your garden. They have sweet, nectar flavor and will work well with fish and dessert. Just remember not to snip off all of those flowers so you can have squash later in the summer and fall!

Sunflowers: These instantly recognizable flowers are a great edible flower to have in your garden. The petals have a leafy, slightly bitter taste, which can be lessed by steaming if you want. The real prize of these flowers though is of course its seeds. Soaked overnight in salt water, they can be baked real quick in the oven for a great treat.

Violets: With their beautiful purple color they work wonderfully in a garden and in a dish. They have a sweet, nectar like taste.

     This is just a sample of edible flowers, that here at the Paracord Project we think would look great in your garden, and would work well on the table. Want some other varieties? Here is a full list of edible flowers:

Angelica

Anise Hyssop

Apple

Arugula

Basil

Bee Balm

Borage

Burnet

Calendula

Carnation

Chamomile

Chicory

Chives

Chrysanthemum

Citrus

Clover

Coriander

Cornflower

Dandelion

Day Lily

Dill

English Daisy

Fennel

Fuchsia

Gardenia

Gladiolus

Hibiscus

Hollyhock

Honeysuckle

Hyssop

Impatiens

Jasmine

Johnny-Jump-Up

Lavender

Lemon Verbena

Lilac

Mallow

Marigold

Marjoram

Mint

Mustard

Nasturtium

Okra

Pansy

Pea

Pineapple Guava

Primrose

Radish

Redbud

Rose

Rosemary

Runner Bean

Safflower

Sage

Savory

Scneted Geranium

Snapdragon

Society Garlic

Squash Blossom

Sunflower

Thyme

Tuberous Begonia

Violet

Yucca

     So there you are! Some beautiful flowers that can be added to gardents for a decorative element. Then add them to your table for a tasty and beautiful addition to all your other garden treats.

~Sara