Edible flowers for the northwest gardener

Edible flowers are a lot of fun to experiment with, yet little (and much contradictory) information exists about them. This list excludes all known poisonous and questionable flowers as well as most tropical flowers and some edible flowers with little culinary merit. Please note that this list pertains only to the edibility of the flower portion of the plant. Finally, never eat any plant or flower you cannot identify with certainty.

Note: Treat eating edible flowers as you might mushrooms. Different people have different sensitivities—try a small piece to check out your personal reaction.

Anise Hyssop - Agastache foeniculum
Arugula - Erusca vesicaria
Basil - Ocimum basilicum
Bachelor’s Button - Centaurea cyanus
Bee Balm - Monarda didyma
Begonia - Begonia hybrid
Borage - Borago officinalis
Brassicas - Brassica spp.
Calendula - Calendula officinalis
Clove Pink - Dianthus caryophyllus
Chamomile - Matricaria recutita
Chervil - Anthriscus cerefolium
Chive - Allium schoenorasum
Garlic Chives - Allium tuberosum
Chrysanthemums - Chrysanth. x morifolium
Citrus Blossoms - Citrus limon, C. sinensis
Clover, Red - Trifolium pratense
Coriander - Coriandrum sativum
Cress - Lepidium sativum
Daisy, English - Bellis perennis
Dandelion - Taraxacum officinale
Day Lily - Hemerocallis fulva

Dill - Anethum graveolens

Elderberry - Sambucus canadensis

ALL ELDER FLOWERS ARE EDIBLE. BLUE ELDER BERRIES ARE EDIBLE. RED ELDER BERRIES ARE POISONOUS!

Fennel - Foeniculum vulgare
Fuchsia - Fuchsia hybrid
Garlic Mustard - Allaria petiolata
Geranium, Scented - Pelargoniums

Gladiolas - Gladiolus spp.
DO NOT EAT GLADIOLUS GANDAVENSIS.

Herbs - all culinary flowers
Hibiscus - Hibiscus spp.
Hollyhock - Alcea rosea
Horehound, White - Marrubium vulgare
Hyssop - Hyssopus officinalis

Jasmine - Jasminium grandiflorum
DO NOT CONFUSE WITH CAROLINA JESSAMINE (GELSEMIUM SEMPERVIRENS) WHICH IS POISONOUS!

Jewelweed - Impatiens carpense
Lavender - Lavandula spp.
Johnny Jump Up - Viola tricolor
Lemon Balm - Melissa officinalis
Lemon Verbena - Lippia citriodora

Lily - Lilium auratum
ONLY TRUE LILIES ARE EDIBLE. THERE ARE MANY OTHER SO-CALLED 'LILIES' SUCH AS AZTEC, CALLA, MARIPOSA, AFRICAN, AND LILY OF THE VALLEY-ALL OF WHICH ARE POISONOUS!

Lovage - Levisticum officinale
Marjoram - Origanum majorana
Maple - Acer macrophyllum, Acer rubrum

Marigold - T. tenuifolia, T. lucida
MOST MARIGOLDS, WHILE EDIBLE, DON'T TASTE GOOD. TRY 'LEMON GEM', 'TANGERINE GEM' AND 'MEXICAN TARRAGON'

Meadowsweet - Filipendula ulmaria
Mint - Mentha spp.
Mitsuba - Cryptotaenia japonica
Mustard - Brassica spp.
Nasturtium - Tropaelum majus
Nootka Rose - Rosa nutkana
Nodding Onion - Allium cernuum
Oregano - Origanum vulgare
Pansy - Viola x wirockiana
Passion Flower - Passiflora spp.

Peas - Pisum sativum
NOTE: SWEET PEA FLOWERS (LATHYRUS ODORATUS) ARE POISONOUS!

Perilla - Perilla frutescans
Pineapple Guava - Feijoa sellowiana
Pineapple Sage - Salvia elegans

Poppy - Papaver rhoeas
PETALS ONLY. DO NOT EAT LEAVES. THE OPIUM, CALIFORNIA AND MEXICAN POPPY FLOWERS ARE POISONOUS!

Primrose - Primula vulgaris
NOTE: GERMAN PRIMROSE (PRIMROSE OBCONICA) IS POISONOUS!

Prune - Prunus domestica
Rose - Rosa spp.
Rosemary - Rosmarinus officinalis
Sage - Salvia spp.
Salad Burnett - Sanguisorba officinalis

Scarlet Runner Bean - Phaseolus coccineus
THE PAINTED LADY RUNNER BEAN IS ALSO EDIBLE AND QUITE BEAUTIFUL.

Shungiku - Chrysanthemum coronarium
Sorrel - Rumex acetosa
Savory, Summer - Satureja hortensis
Savory, Winter - Satureja montana
Sunflower - Helianthus annuus
Sweet Cicely - Myrrhis odorata
Tarragon - Artemesia dracunculus
Thyme - Thymus spp.

Tulip - Tulipa spp.
DO NOT EAT THE TULIP BULB!

Vegetables - All except: tomato, potato, eggplant, peppers and asparagus
 

Viola - Viola cornuta
Violet - Viola odorata
Watercress - Nasturtium officinale

Water Lily - Nymphia odorata
WHITE NYMPHAEA ALBA AND YELLOW WATERLILY (NYMPHAEA LUTEUM) ARE POISONOUS!

Yucca - Yucca spp.