Decorate your cake with Fresh, Organic, Edible Flowers!

Edible Flowers Chart

OK Friends- here is a list, in teeny font, of lots of flowers you can eat. And decorate a cake with. Many thanks to the NC Cooperative Extension Service and NC State University for the info.

Table 1. Edible Flowers

Common name	Scientific name	Flavor	Color	Comments
Anise hyssop	Agastache foeniculum	Anise	Lilac	Self seeding perennial
Apple	Malus spp.	Floral	White to pink	Eat in moderation since flowers contain cyanide precursors
Arugula	Eruca vesicaria sativa	Spicy	White	Annual; once flowers form the leaves become bitter
Basil	Ocimum basilicum	Herbal	White, lavender	Annual
Bachelor's button	Centaurea cyanus	Vegetal	White, pink, blue	Annual; petals are edible; the calyx is bitter
Bee balm	Monarda didyma	Minty, sweet, hot	Wide range	Perennial
Borage	Borago officinalis	Herbal	Blue	Annual; use with nasturtium; use sparingly -- diuretic effects
Broccoli	Brassica officinalis	Spicy	Green	Annual
Calendula	Calendula officinalis	Slightly bitter	Yellow, orange	Annual; most often used for color rather than flavor
Chamomile	Chamaemelum noblis	Sweet apple	White	Perennial; drink tea in moderation -- contains thuaone; ragweed sufferers may be allergic to chamomile
Chervil	Anthriscus cerefolium	Herbal	White	Annual
Chicory	Cichorium intybus	Herbal	Blue	Perennial
Chives	Allium schoeonoprasum	Onion	Lavender-pink	Perennial; avoid eating whole flower; taste can be overwhelming
Chrysanthemum	Chrysanthemum spp.	Strong	Perennial	Use the florets; strong flavor
Dandelion	Taraxacum officinale	Sweet, honey-like	Yellow	Perennial; use young flowers, mature flowers become bitter; flowers close after picking
Daylily	Hemerocallis spp.	Vegetal, sweet	Wide range	Perennial; may act as a diuretic or laxative; eat in moderation
Dianthus	Dianthus spp.	Sweet clove flavor	Wide range	Perennial; remove the narrow base of the petals (bitter)
Dill	Anethum graveolens	Herbal	Yellowish-green	Annual
Elderberry	Sambucus canadensis	Sweet	White	Perennial; do not wash flowers since it removes much of the flavor
English daisy	Bellis perennis	Mildly bitter	Pink	Perennial; ray flowers have a mildly bitter taste
Fennel	Foeniculum vulgare	Mildly anise	Yellow-green	Normally grown as an annual
Hibiscus	Hibiscus rosa-sinensis	Mildly citrus	Rose, red	Showy edible garnish
Hollyhock	Althea rosea	Vegetal	White, pink, red	Showy edible garnish
Honeysuckle	Lonicera japonica	Sweet	White to pale yellow	Perennial; do not use other honeysuckle flowers
Johnny-jump-up	Viola tricolor	Wintergreen	Purple and yellow	Annual; the petals have little flavor unless the green sepals are included; contain saponins and may be toxic in large amounts
Lavender	Lavendula spp.	Sweet, perfumed flavor	Lavender	Perennial; use sparingly due to intense flavor; lavender oil may be poisonous
Lilac	Syringa vulgaris	Varies	Lavender	Wide variation in flavor -- from no flavor to green and herbaceous to lilac
Linden	Tilia spp.	Honey-like	White	Frequent consumption of linden flower tea can cause heart damage
Lovage	Levisticum officinale	Celery	White	Perennial
Marigold	Tagetes patula	Bitter	Yellow, orange	Annual; Lemon Gem and Tangerine Gem have the best flavor
Mint	Mentha spp.	Minty	Purple	Perennial; each type of mint has its own unique flavor
Nasturtium	Tropaeolum majus	Spicy, peppery	Wide range	Annual
Okra	Abelmoschus esculentus	Vegetal	Yellow	Annual
Pansy	Viola x wittrockiana	Vegetal	Wide range	Annual; has a slightly sweet green or grassy flavor; petals have a mild flavor; whole flower has a wintergreen flavor
Passion flower	Passiflora spp.	Vegetal	Purple	Vine; showy flowers best used as a garnish
Pineapple sage	Salvia elegans	Sweet, fruity	Red	Perennial; flavor has a hint of mint and spice
Red clover	Trifolium pratense	Sweet	Red	Annual; raw clover flowers are not easily digestible
Rose	Rosa spp.	Perfumed	Wide range	Perennial: remove the white, bitter base of the petal
Rosemary	Rosmarinus officinalis	Herbal	Blue	Perennial
Sage	Salvia officinalis	Herbal	Purple-blue	Perennial
Scarlet runner bean	Phaseolus vulgaris	Vegetal	Purple	Annual; flower only last one to two days
Scented geraniums	Pelargonium spp.	Varies	Wide range	Perennial; the flavor is usually similar to the scent of the leaves
Signet marigold	Tagetes signata	Spicy, herbal	Yellow	Annual; may be harmful if eaten in large amounts; other marigolds are edible but have a tangy to bitter flavor
Snapdragon	Anthirrhinum majus	Bitter	Wide range	Annual; use as a garnish
Squash	Curcubita pepo	Vegetal	Yellow	Annual
Sunflower	Helianthus annu us	Varies	Yellow	Annual; flower is best eaten in bud stage when it has an artichoke flavor; petals of open flowers have a bitter- sweet flavor; pollen can cause a reaction for some people
Sweet woodruff	Galium odoratum	Sweet, nutty, vanilla	White	Can have a blood thinning effect if eaten in large amounts
Thyme	Thymus spp.	Herbal	White	Perennial herb
Tulip	Tulipa spp.	Vegetal	Wide range	Bulb; good stuffed
Violet	Viola odorata	Sweet, perfumed	Purple, white	Perennial; use candied or fresh