Flowers that are Safe to Eat Can Be Very Nutritious

Vegetables and fruits aren't the only thing you can grow and eat from your garden. You really can eat your flowers. It's very important not to eat any flowers that have been sprayed with chemicals. Flowers from florists, nurseries or garden centers usually are sprayed with pesticides. One of the best ways to be sure flowers are chemical free is to grow your own. Some flowers only have certain parts you can eat. If you have allergies to grass or pollen then ask an allergist or professional if it's safe to add flowers to your diet. Pollen allergic reactions can be eliminated by removing the pollen. Cut off the anthers and pistils which are the tiny hairs in the middle part of flowers. Never sample flowers until you do research to make sure they are safe to consume so you don't get sick. There are books you can buy about edible flowers that will tell you which flowers are safe.

Banana Blossom or Banana Heart can be cooked or eaten raw. There are tender white parts of the blossom that have a tough covering that's usually removed. Some varieties of these blossoms taste bitter. If you like the taste of cucumber then you'll like Borage flowers. The cucumber flavor is mild and the tiny flowers go perfect with many soups or salads. Certain flowers are particularly good for salads such as starts of Calendula or Pot Marigold, Pansies and Nasturums. They also go good with gin-based cocktails. Violets are edible flowers that can be sugar crystallized, made into syrup, used whole as jelly, eaten raw in salads, used as potherbs or made into tea. Violets should be added to salads in small amounts. Day Lilies have a sweet and crunchy flavor and taste great in stir fries and salads. They can also be stuffed and fried. The pale yellow and orange varieties are the sweetest part of the plant. Some Lilies are not edible so be careful. Also, Day Lilies should be eating in moderation because that can work like a diuretic or laxative. Scented Geraniums can be used to scent jellies, sugar, butter and many other things.