Flowers We Eat

If you’ve ever eaten broccoli or cauliflower, you have eaten a flower. These yummy vegetables are not the only edible flowers though. Whether tossed in a salad or garnishing a cake, learn about a few edible flowers you might find in your backyard!*

Violets

These dainty flowers have a sweet floral taste and are great when sugared and put atop desserts.

Lavender

When sprinkled into desserts like vanilla cake, lavender releases a strong, sweet flavor.

Nasturtiums

These bright flowers have a spicy, peppery taste. The leaves, flowers, and seeds of this plant are all edible.

Calendula

This beautiful golden flower is often tossed fresh in salads or sautéed to release a flavor similar to saffron (which also comes from a flower!).

Squash Blooms

All plants in the squash family, including zucchini and pumpkin, have edible flowers. These large yellow flowers have a slightly sweet taste and are great on top of pizza.

Dandelions

From the roots to the flower, every part of this common yard flower is edible! These flowers are sweet and crunch when eaten raw but can also be breaded and fried.

Flower tasting tips:

• *Not all flowers are edible! Always ask an adult before tasting any flowers.
• Avoid flowers that may have been sprayed with any chemicals.
• Wash flowers gently in a bowl of cold water and let air dry before tasting.
• In most cases, only eat the petals of the flower, as other parts of the flower like the stigma and other might give off a bitter taste.

If you don’t find any of these flowers growing in your yard, you can buy some seeds and plant your own edible flower garden!