Plant edible flowers in your garden

Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
Annual
Colour + flavour: White; fragrant basil flavour
Uses + comments: Use whole flowers in salads, put whole flower spikes into bottled salad dressings

Scented geranium (Pelargonium spp.)
Annual
Colour + flavour: White, pink; little flavour, scent similar to leaves (various fragrances, including rose, nutmeg and lemon)
Uses + comments: Use single petals in salads, float in mineral water, scatter on fruit and cheese, bake into cakes and breads

Rose (Rosa spp.)
Woody shrub, Zones 4 to 8
Colour + flavour: Many colours; rose perfume flavour
Uses + comments: Use single petals in salads and desserts; preserve with sugar

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
Tender woody sub-shrub
Colour + flavour: Mauve; herbal flavour
Uses + comments: Use whole flowers in salads, sprinkle on meats and vegetables

American elder (Sambucus canadensis)
Woody shrub, Zone 4
Colour + flavour: White; sweet, fruity flavour
Uses + comments: Use single flowers removed from cluster in salads, sprinkle on fruit and cheese; washing flowers removes flavour

Lilac (Syringa spp.)
Woody shrub, Zone 4
Colour + flavour: White, pink, mauve, purple; lilac perfume flavour
Uses + comments: Use individual florets removed from cluster in salads, sprinkle over ice cream, fruit and cheese

Signet marigold (Tagetes tenuifolia)
Annual
Colour + flavour: Yellow and orange; citrus, ‘Lemon Gem’ and ‘Tangerine Gem’ have best flavour
Uses + comments: Use single petals in salads, float in mineral water

Dandelion (Taraxaeum officinale)
Perennial, Zone 3
Colour + flavour: Yellow; sweet honey flavour
Uses + comments: Use single petals in salads, float in mineral water

Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)
Annual
Colour + flavour: Yellow, orange, red; spicy and peppery
Uses + comments: Use single petals in salads, whole leaves in sandwiches

Johnny-jump-up (Viola tricolor) and pansy (V. x wittrockiana cvs.)
Annuals
Colour + flavour: Blue, yellow or white; grassy flavour
Uses + comments: Use whole flowers in salads; preserve with sugar

Ready to get cooking? Check out our Easy recipes for edible flowers and Edible flower recipes for delicious dishes for your pretty flowers!

Read more in Food & Entertaining and Garden to Table