Many flowering plants are edible, which allows you, the gardener, to add diversity to your table as well as your garden. As well, many of these flowering plants have very delicate flavors. The flavor of these plants is not their only value. The addition of the color in your cuisine is helpful as a positive visual stimulus. Tastefully and beautifully presented food makes people feel better on an emotional level.
When selecting edible plants for your garden and table it is important to make sure that you have chosen those plants carefully. Make sure that you have the correct species and not a close relative or different species that looks similar that may be either medicinal or toxic. Take care that you have not treated them with any chemical pesticides or herbicides.
If you have small children or developmentally disabled individuals in your home, and you use edible flowers in your culinary creations, make sure they are properly instructed not to eat random flowers, fruits, and foliage in the garden without permission as some may be poisonous.
Chinese Lanterns- Physalis Alkekengi
Also known as Japanese Lanterns, Winter Cherry, Ground Cherry, Husk Tomato.
Zone 3 to 9, Perennial, Sun to Partial Shade, Most soil conditions. May become invasive.
Berries may be eaten raw in moderation, or made into preserves, or as filling for pies. Not all parts of the plant are edible as the Physalis genus belongs to the solanaceae or nightshade family thus they are related to tomatoes, peppers and eggplants, as such you should not eat the foliage.
Balloon Flowers- Platycodon Grandiflorus
Also known as Chinese Bellflowers.
Zone 4 to 9 Perennial Full sun to partial shade.
Young foliage may be used in salads. Roots are used in traditional Asian medicine and cuisine. There are several different sizes of these plants, so in addition to their culinary use, they are a versatile garden plant.
Pansy- Viola Cornuta
image source
Zone 6 to 9 Perennial (This accepted zoning is very conservative).
Slight wintergreen flavor to the flowers. Use in fruit salad, potato salad, desserts, soups and as a colorful garnish. May be candied in sugar and put on ice creams or cakes. Another use is to freeze the smaller flowers into ice cubes.
Marigolds- Tagetes (all Subspecies )
image source
Annual
Marigolds are sturdy flowers that hold up well long after being cut, they come in a color range from yellow to red and offer flowers of different sizes depending on the species. Marigold flowers can be used whole as garnishes or chopped up into salads. Some varieties are used as a tarragon substitute.
Honesty- Money Plant- Lunaria Annua
Zone 3 to 10 Biannual
The leaves are edible and can be added to salads, the seed pods look like silver coins and can be used for decoration only. People believe it attracts wealth.
Calendula- Calendula Officinalis
image source
Annual
Often called Pot Marigold, Calendula petals can be used as a Saffron substitute. They are used to add cheerful color to salads, egg, or cheese dishes. Also has anti-inflammatory properties when applied to the skin.
