Edible Flowers M-Y

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Edible Flowers N-Y and Poisonous Flowers

Name Picture Comments  
Nasturium

Tropaeolum majus

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Buds are often pickled and used like capers. Tastes like: sweet, mildly pungent, peppery flavor.
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Okra

Abelmoschus aesculentus
(Hibiscus esculentus)

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Tastes like: similar to squash blossoms.
Pansy

Viola X wittrockiana

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Tastes like: very mild sweet to tart flavor.
Pea

Pisum species

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Flowering ornamental sweet peas are poisonous.
Primrose

Primula vulgaris

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Birdseye Primrose (P. farinosa) causes contact dermatitis. The other varieties taste like: bland to sweet flavor.
Redbud

Cercis canadensis

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Tastes like: mildly sweet.
Rose

Rosa rugosa or R. gallica officinalis

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Tastes like: sweet, aromatic flavor, stronger fragrance produces a stronger flavor. Be sure to remove the bitter white portion of the petals. Rose hips are also edible.
Rosemary

Rosmarinus officinalis

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Tastes like: pine-like, sweet, savory.
Safflower*

Carthamus tinctorius

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A "poor man's saffron" without the pungent aroma or strong flavor of the real thing.
Sage

Salvia officinalis

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Sage should not be eaten in large amounts over a long period of time. Tastes like: varies by type.
Savory: Summer

Satureja hortensis

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Tastes like: bold, peppery flavor.
Scented Geranium

Pelargonium species

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Citronella variety may not be edible. Tastes like: varies with differing varieties from lemon to mint.
Snapdragon

Antirrhinum majus

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Tastes like: bland to bitter flavor.
Squash Blossom

Cucurbita pepo species (aka Zucchini Blossom)

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Tastes like: sweet, nectar flavor.
Sunflower*

Helianthus annus

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Tastes like: leafy, slightly bitter. Lightly steam petals to lessen bitterness. Unopened flower buds can be steamed like artichokes.
Thyme

Thymus vulgaris

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Tastes like: lemon, adds a nice light scent.
Tuberous Begonia

Begonia X tuberosa

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ONLY HYBRIDs are edible. The flowers and stems contain oxalic acid and should not be consumed by individuals suffering from gout, kidneystones, or rheumatism. Further, the flower should be eaten in strick moderation. Tastes like: crisp, sour, lemony.
Yucca

Yucca species

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Only the petals are edible. Other parts contain saponin, which is poisonous. Large amounts may be harmful. Tastes like: cruncy, fresh flavor.

*Only the petals of these composite flowers are edible. The pollen of composite flowers is highly allergenic and may cause reactions in sensitive individuals. Sufferers of asthma, ragweed, and hayfever should not consume composite flowers, and may have extreme allergies to ingesting any flowers at all.

 

Poisonous Flowers to Avoid

Common Name Botanical Name
Aconite (wolfsbane, monkhood) Aconitum spp.
Anemone (windflower) Anemone spp.
Anthurium Anthurium spp.
Atamasco lily Zephyranthes spp.
Autumn crocus Colchicum autumnale
Azalea Azalea spp. (Rhododendron spp.)
Baneberry Actaea spp.
Black locust Robinia pseudo-acacia
Bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis
Boxwood Buxus spp.
Burning bush (strawberry bush, spindle tree, wahoo) Euonymus spp
Buttercup Ranunculus spp.
Butterfly weed Asclepias spp.
Caladium Caladium spp.
Calla (calla lily) Calla palustris (Zantedeschia aethiopica)
Carolina jasmine (yellow jessamine) Gelsemium sempervirens
Castor bean Ricinus communis
Cherry laurel Prunus caroliniana
Chinaberry (bead tree) Melia azedarach
Christmas rose Helleborus niger
Clematis Clematis spp.
Daffodil Narcissus spp.
Deadly nightshade (belladonna) Atropoa belladona
Death cammas (black snakeroot) Zigadenus spp.
Delphinium (larkspur) Delphinium spp.
Dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium
Dumbcane Dieffenbachia spp.
Elephant ears Colocasia antiquorum
False hellebore Veratrum viride
Four o'clock Mirabills jalapa
Foxglove Digitalis purpurea
Giant elephant ear Alocasia spp.
Gloriosa lily Glonosa superba
Golden chain tree (laburnum) Labunum anagryroides
Goldenseal Hydrastis canadensis
Heavenly bamboo (nandina) Nandinaa domestica
Henbane (black henbane) Hyoscyamus niger
Horse chestnut (Ohio buckeye) Aesculus spp.
Horse nettle Solanum spp.
Hyacinth Hyacinthus orientalis
Hyacinth bean Dolicbos lab lab
Hydrangea Hydrangea spp.
Iris Iris spp.
Ivy (English ivy) Hedera helix
Jack-in-the-pulpit Arisaemia triphyllum
Jerusalem cherry Solanum pseudocapsicum
Jessamine (jasmine) Cestrum spp.
Jetbead (jetberry) Rhodotypos tetrapetala
Jimson weed Datura spp (Brugmansia spp.)
Jonquil Narcissus spp.
Kentucky coffee tree Gymnocladus dioica
Lantana Lantana camara
Leopard's bane Arnica montana
Lily of the valley Convallaria majalis
Lobelia (cardinal flower, Indian tobacco) Lobelia spp.
Marsh marigold Caltha palustris
May apple (mandrake) Podophyllum peltatum
Mescal bean (Texas mountain laurel, frijo lillo) Sophora secundiflora
Mistletoe Phoradendron spp.
Morning glory Ipomoea violacea
Mountain laurel Kalmia latifolia
Nightshade Solanum spp.
Oleander Nerium oleander
Periwinkle (myrtle, vinca) Vinca spp.
Philodendron Philodendron spp. (Monstera spp.)
Pittosporum Pittosporum spp.
Poison hemlock Conium maculatum
Potato Solanum tuberosum
Privet Ligustrum spp.
Rhododendron Rhododendron spp.
Rock poppy (celandyne) Chelidonium majus
Schefflera Schefflera spp.
Spring adonis Adonis vernalis
Spurge Euphorbia spp.
Star of Bethlehem Ornithogalum umbellatum
Sweet pea Lathyrus spp.
Tobacco Nicotiana tabacum
Trumpet flower (chalice vine) Solandra spp.
Water hemlock Cicuta maculata
Wild cherry (black cherry) Prunus serotina
Wisteria Wisteria spp.
Yellow allamanda Allamanda cathartica
Yellow oleander (tiger apple, be still tree, lucky nut) Thevetia peruviana
Yesterday-today-and-tomorrow Brunfelsia spp.

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