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| 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 |
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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. | ||||||||||||||||
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*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. |
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Poisonous Flowers to Avoid |
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| 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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