Edible Flower: Some Crop Plants Produce This Unique Flower

An edible flower is just one of the unique, less known uses of plants.

However, it should not be a surprise to find flowers that can be eaten or ingested in some manner.

After all, they are modified shoots and there are plenty of edible stems and leaves.

A list of selected crop plants each capable of producing flowers that are edible is provided below.

For more information, including the usable parts and how they are used, you may start with the references listed hereunder.

The scientific names will be useful also in finding details about any plant.

The List of Crops With Flowers That Are Edible

Table EF-1. A partial list of crops with flowers that are edible (mainly from Peel [2004] and Newman and O’Connor [2012]).


Scientific NameCommon Names
Abelmoschus aesculentusOkra, gumbo, gombo
Allium spp.Onions
Anethum graveolensDill
Anthemis nobilisChamomile
Bellis perennisDaisy
Borago officinalisBorage
Brassica spp.Broccoli, Cauliflower, Mustard
Calendula officinalisCalendula, pot marigold
Cichorium intybusChicory
Cucurbita spp.Squash, Kalabasa, Pumpkin
Cynara scolymusArtichoke, Globe artichoke
Dianthus spp.Dianthus or pinks
Eruca vesicariaArugula
Foeniculum vulgareFennel
Hemerocallis fulvaDaylily
Hibiscus rosa-sinensisHibiscus, Gumamela, China rose
Humulus lupulusHop, Common hop
Hyssopus officinalisHyssop
Lavandula angustifoliaLavender
Monarda didymaBergamot, Bee balm, Oswego tea
Musa spp.Plantain, Banana, Saging
Ocimum basilicumBasil, Sangig, Balanoy
Phaseolus spp., ex. P. coccineusBeans, ex. Scarlet runner bean
Pisum spp., ex. P. sativumPeas, ex. garden pea
Rosa spp.Roses
Rosmarinus officinalisRosemary
Sambucus nigraElderflower, Elder
Sesbania grandifloraGiant sesbania, Katuray, Gaway-gaway
Thymus spp.Thyme
Tropaeolum majusNasturtium
Viola odorataViolet, Sweet violet
Viola tricolorHeartseasePansy or Johnny Jump-Up

(Disclaimer: This list is for information purposes only in relation to angiosperms and plant structure.

Although the author has had personal knowledge of and still continues to take nourishment from food that includes some botanical flowers, he does not recommend nor promote, either express or implied, any flower or part thereof for consumption.)

REFERENCES

NEWMAN SE, O’CONNOR AS. 2012. Edible flowers. Retrieved Oct. 15, 2012, from http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/07237.html.

PEEL L. 2004. Kitchen Garden: What to Grow and How to Grow It. HarperCollins Practical Gardener. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers Inc. 176 p.

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Ben Bareja

Ben Bareja, the owner-founder-webmaster of CropsReview.com. This website was conceptualized primarily to serve as an e-library for reference purposes on the principles and practices in crop science, including basic botany. Read more here

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