Common Name	Botanical Name	What it looks like	Comments
Angelica	Angelica archangelica		May be skin allergen to some individuals. Good with fish and the stems are especially popular candied. Tastes like: celery-flavored.
Anise Hyssop	Agastache foeniculum		Tastes like: sweet, anise-like, licorice
Apple	Malus species		Eat in moderation; may contain cyanide precursors. Tastes like: delicate floral flavor
Arugula	Eruca vesicaria		Tastes like: nutty, spicy, peppery flavor
Basil	Ocimum basilicum		Tastes like: different varieties have different milder flavors of the corresponding leaves. Tastes like: lemon, mint.
Bee Balm	Monarda species		Used in place of bergamot to make a tea with a flavor similar to Earl Grey Tea.
Borage	Borago officinalis		Taste like: light cucumber flavor.
Burnet	Sanguisorba minor		Tastes like: faint cucumber flavor, very mild
Calendula*	Calendula officinalis		Tastes like: poor man's saffron, spicy, tangy, peppery, adds a golden hue to foods
Carnation	Dianthus caryophyllus		Tastes like: spicy, peppery, clove-like
Chamomile*	Chamaemelum nobile		Tastes like: faint apple flavor, good as a tea
Chicory*	Cichorium intybus		Tastes like: mild-bitter taste, something like endive. Buds can be pickled.
Chives (Garden )	Allium schoenoprasum		Tastes like: mild onion flavor.
Chives (Garlic)	Allium tuberosum		Tastes like: garlicky flavor
Chrysanthemum	Chrysanthemum coronarium		Tastes like: slight to bitter flavor, pungent
Citrus (Lemon)	Citrus limon		Tastes like: waxy, pronounced flavor, use sparingly as an edible garnish, good for making citrus waters
Clover	Trifolium species		Raw flower-heads can be difficult to digest.
Coriander	Coriander sativum		Tastes like: slightly lemony combination of sage and citrus
Cornflower* (Bachelor's Buttons)	Centaurea cynaus		Tastes like: sweet to spicy, clove-like
Dandelion*	Taraxacum officinalis		Tastes like: very young buds fried in butter taste similar to mushrooms. Makes a potent wine.
Day Lily	Hemerocallis species		Many Lilies (Lillium species) contain alkaloids and are NOT edible. Daylilies may act as a laxative. Tastes like: sweet, crunchy, like a crisp lettuce leaf, faintly like chestnuts or beans
Dill	Anthum graveolens		Tastes like: lighter and more subtle than Dill Seed
English Daisy*	Bellis perennis		Tastes like: tangy, leafy
Fennel	Foeniculum vulgare		Tastes like: sweet, licorice flavor.
Fuschia	Fuchsia X hybrida		Tastes like: slightly acidic
Gardenia	Gardenia jasminoides		Tastes like: light, sweet flavor
Gladiolus*	Gladiolus spp		Tastes like: similar to lettuce
Hibiscus	Hibiscus rosa-sinensis		Tastes like: slightly acidic, boiled makes a nice beverage
Hollyhock	Alcea rosea		Tastes like: very bland, nondescript flavor
Honeysuckle	Lonicera japonica		Berries are highly poisonous. Do not eat them!
Hyssop	Hyssopus officinalis		Tastes like: bitter and slightly minty. Should be avoided by pregnant women and by those with hypertension and epilepsy.
Impatiens	Impatiens wallerana		Tastes like: very bland, nondescript flavor
Jasmine	Jasminum sambac		Tastes like: delicate sweet flavor, used for teas
Johnny Jump-ups	Viola tricolor		Contains saponins and may be toxic in large amounts. Tastes like: sweet to bland flavor
Lavander	Lavandula species		Lavender oil may be poisonous. Tastes like: floral, slightly perfumey flavor
Lemon Verbena	Aloysia triphylla		Tastes like: lemony flavor, usually steeped for tea
Lilac	Syringa vulgaris		Tastes like: lemony, floral, pungent
Mallow	Malva sylvestris		Tastes like: sweet, delicate flavor
Marigold	Tagetes tenuifolia		Tastes like: spicy to bitter
Marjoram	Origanum majorana		Tastes like: marjoram
Mint	Mentha species		Tastes like: the species of mint it is from.
Mustard	Brassica species		Eating in large amounts may cause red skin blotches.
Nasturtium	Tropaeolum majus		Buds are often pickled and used like capers. Tastes like: sweet, mildly pungent, peppery flavor
Okra	Abelmoschus esculentus		Tastes like: similar to squash blossoms
Pansy	Viola X wittrockiana		Tastes like: very mild sweet to tart flavor
Pea	Pisum species		Tastes like: slightly sweet and crunchy and they taste like peas. The shoots and vine tendrils are also edible, with a delicate, pea-like flavor. Flowering ornamental sweet peas are poisonous. DO NOT EAT THEM.
Pineapple Guava	Feijoa sellowiana		Tastes like: similar to the ripe fruit of the plant, flavorful
Primrose	Primula vulgaris		Tastes like: bland to sweet flavor. Birdseye Primrose (P. farinosa) causes contact dermatitis.
Radish	Raphanus sativus		Tastes like: milder, sweeter version of the more familiar radish heat
Redbud	Cercis canadensis		Tastes like: mildly sweet
Rose	Rosa rugosa or R. gallica officinalis		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		Tastes like: pine-like, sweet, savory.
Runner Bean	Phaseolus coccineus		Tastes like: nectar, bean-like
Safflower*	Carthamus tinctorius		Another "poor man's saffron" without the pungent aroma or strong flavor of the real thing
Sage	Salvia officinalis		Sage should not be eaten in large amounts over a long period of time. Tastes like: varies by type.
Savory (Summer)	Satureja hortensis		Tastes like: clean, piney and slightly peppery
Scented Geranium	Pelargonium species		Tastes like: varies with differing varieties from lemon to mint. Citronella variety may not be edible.
Snapdragon	Antirrhinum majus		Tastes like: bland to bitter flavor... peppery
Society Garlic	Tulbaghia violacea		Tastes like: a very mild garlic flavor
Squash Blossom (Zucchini Blossom)	Cucurbita pepo species		Tastes like: sweet, nectar flavor.
Sunflower*	Helianthus annus		Tastes like: leafy, slightly bitter. Lightly steam petals to lessen bitterness. Unopened flower buds can be steamed like artichokes.
Thyme	Thymus vulgaris		Tastes like: lemon, adds a nice light scent.
Tuberous Begonia	Begonia X tuberosa		ONLY HYBRIDs are edible. The flowers and stems contain oxalic acid and should not be consumed by individuals suffering from gout, kidney stones, or rheumatism. Further, the flower should be eaten in strict moderation. Tastes like: crisp, sour, lemony
Voilet	Viola species		Tastes like: sweet, nectar
Yucca	Yucca species		Only the petals are edible. Other parts contain saponin, which is poisonous. Large amounts may be harmful. Tastes like: crunchy, 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.

Flowers to Avoid