15 Different Types of Edible Flowers You Might Easily Find Your Garden

Add color and beauty to your dishes.

Looking for a fun new way to spruce up your recipes? Edible flowers have been used in cooking for centuries, including the cultures of ancient Rome, China, the Middle East, and India. They can decorate cakes, be eaten fresh on salads, frozen in ice cubes, minced for herb butters, or made into jams and teas. (Ree Drummond’s Butterfly Martini recipe calls for an edible orchid!) Edible flowers not only allow you to add color and beauty to dishes, but they also contain vitamins A and C. Research is beginning to investigate the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of edible flowers.

So, what are the types of flowers you can eat? Generally, the petals and whole flowers can be eaten, but remove the white base of each petal, stem, and interior part (such as the anthers and pistils) as these taste bitter.