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Plants with Edible Flowers
Edible flowers - they’re not just for Michelin starred chefs (although please feel free to credit us if you get one!). Flowers you can eat are easy to grow in beds or pots and can be used in salads, desserts and drinks for their flavour or as cake decorations and garnishes. Try Nasturtium and Peony in a salad, Osteospermum and Violas in ice cubes or scatter some Marigold and Pansy petals on your bakes to take your entertaining to the next level - there are more ideas in our edible flower guide.
Growing Edible Flowers
It's best to grow your own edible flowers, to ensure they’re as fresh as possible. Edible varieties include Dahlias, Honeysuckle, Violas, Pansies, Hollyhocks, Peonies and Marigolds along with flowering herbs like Borage, Mint, Chives and Coriander. Never use pesticides on edible flowers - if pests are a problem, try natural pest control methods. And if you have dogs or cats, make sure you plant your edible crops away from any areas your pets might use as a toilet!
How to pick Edible Flowers
Edible flowers are best served fresh, so always pick them as close as possible to the time you need them. The best time to pick is first thing in the morning before they’ve been in the sun too long - pick the largest, freshest looking blooms and reject any that are wilted, diseased or damaged by pests. You can store your edible flowers in the fridge for a day or two. It’s best not to wash them, but if you prefer to, you can dip them in a bowl of cold water and shake gently to dry. The petals are usually the best bit. Remove the heel at the base of the flower (which can often taste bitter) along with the stamens, pistil and calyx of larger flowers like Hollyhocks. With smaller varieties like Pansies, you can eat the whole flower.
How to use Edible Flowers
In salads: try Gladiolus (similar taste to lettuce), Peony, Dahlia (flavours include chestnut, spicy apple and carrot!) and Nasturtium (a peppery taste like watercress). As a garnish: Pansies and Violas bring colour and a lovely mild, fresh flavour to sweet or savoury dishes, and look especially lovely sprinkled on top of cupcakes. In drinks: add a scattering of blue Borage petals to cocktails or fruit punches, or freeze Osteospermums and Pansies into ice cubes. In preserves: the clove-like taste of Dianthus makes them ideal to flavour sugars, oils and vinegars. Rose petals make delicious jams and jellies and Honeysuckle can be made into a syrup. Dip petals in sugar to make candied violets or dry Calendula for a lovely saffron substitute.
What NOT to eat
Not all flowers are edible. The following flowers are poisonous and must never be eaten: Daffodil, Poppy, Foxglove (Digitalis), Sweet Pea, Bluebell, Delphinium, Aquilegia, Lobelia, Lily of the Valley and Clematis. This list is not exhaustive. If you’re in any doubt about whether a flower is edible or not, don’t risk it.
Large flowered, two toned purple Wisteria
- Two toned Violet and Lavender flower racemes up to 50cm long
- Flowers from May to June
- Ideal for fragrance and colour on a patio pergola
- Fully hardy, long-lived perennial–will flower year after year
Romantic soft Blue-violet flowering Wisteria
- Soft Blue-violet flowers in densely packed hanging racemes 25-30cm long
- Flowers from May to June
- Twines anti-clockwise through a tree or across a wall
- Long-lived hardy perennial with real bee-appeal
The best lavender for the UK climate
- Plant in full sun or dappled shade
- Give pots and borders fragrance
- Flowers June to August
- RHS Plant for Pollinators
An RHS Award winning hardy Geranium
- Delicate blooms of violet through summer
- RHS Award of Garden Merit Winner
- Fully Hardy in the UKflowers year after year
- Flowers from June-September
Sweet blush pink blooms year after year
- Delicate, blush-pink flowers
- Fully hardy in the UK
- Excellent ground-cover for borders and beds
- Flowers from May-September
Create a carpet of flowers
- The perfect blend of colours selected by our growers
- Flowers all summer from May to September
- Plant at the front of a border as groundcover or for underplanting trees
- Create a colourful carpet of flowers at the front of beds and borders
Grow a carpet of bronze for your beds and borders
- Profusions of magenta pink flowers throughout Summer
- Fully Hardy in the UK
- Attractive dark bronze foliage
- Flowers all the way through Summer
Towers above all the other flowers
- Colour all summer long from June to September
- Grows to around 2m tall!
- Perfect for a bee-friendly border
- Great for cutting
Let it rain rose-pink petals
- Flowing flowers of delicate pinks, purples, and whites
- The ultimate plant to train up structures
- An RHS Award Winning variety for its spectacular blooms
- Beautiful green foliage to cover an archway
One of the prettiest perennial Geraniums
- Orchid pink flowers with darker red-purple veining
- Flowering from June to August
- Low growing groundcover plant for the front of borders
- Attractive to bees, butterflies and humans
The brightest and most eyecatching hollyhocks
- Happy in full sun to partial shade
- Reaches showstopping heights in borders
- Flowers June to September
- Showstopping frilly petals
Towers of Maroon petal swirls
- Tall towers of rich maroon double flowers
- Add amazing height and colour to your border beds
- Create a classic cottage garden aesthetic
- Get spectacular blooms from June to September
Violet flowers demand attention
- Purple-blue flowers up to 11cm across
- Blooms from July to October
- Orange fruits add autumn colour
- Perfect for a sunny wall or arbour
Towers of roses standing tall
- Magnificent double rose-like flowers
- Create a stunning tall floral display
- Frilly petal pattern is an absolute showstopper
- Create a classic cottage garden aesthetic
A delicious blend of the sweeter colours of summer
- Yellow flowers with a Violet Blue eye
- Flowers from June to September
- Perfect feature in borders or pots
- Easy to grow and care for
Towers of scarlet red petal swirls
- Towers of deep, luscious scarlet red flowers
- Frilly petal pattern is an absolute showstopper
- Make an excellent cut flower for floral displays
- Get spectacular blooms from June to September
A favourite at Roots
- Zone 2 - Pond Edges
- Grows best in full sun to partial shade
- Flowers during March and April
- A native plant which is highly attractive to pollinators
Sky Blue flowers with Striking black leaves
- Masses of Sky Blue flowers
- Blooms from June to September
- Ideal for the front of borders
- Colourful ground cover perennial
The tallest flowers in the garden!
- Towering stems of fluffy double flowers in a rich plum purple
- Flowers from July to September
- Plant in full sun by a wall or fence for support
- Loved by bees and butterflies
Climbing passion flower with a riot of amethyst coloured blooms
- Dozens of jewel-coloured blooms on evergreen foliage
- Lime green stamens and orange fruits add contrast and drama
- Perfect feature for a trellis, fence or wall
- Easy to grow and care for
Bold Violet flowers for bright borders
- Violet daisy-like flowers with a dark centre
- Flowers from June to October
- A splash of summer colour in borders
- Great for container displays
Golden yellow, fully double rosettes
- Zone 2 - Pond Edges
- Prefers full sun but will be fine in partial shade
- Spectacular spring blooms from March to April
- Ideal for adding colour to pond edges
Unusual lilac patio rose, best for tubs
- Large, silver-lilac roses in clusters of 3-6 with light green foliage
- Subtly fragranced
- Ideal for tubs in sunny places
- Flowers repeatedly until the first frosts
An award winning hardy Geranium
- Delicate blooms of violet through summer
- RHS Award of Garden Merit Winner
- Fully Hardy in the UKflowers year after year
- Flowers from June-September
Fighting plastic waste
Delivering fresh from the nursery
Supporting UK growers
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