1. Eat flowers only when your are positive they are edible.

2. Just because it is served with food does not mean a flower is edible (see Rule 1).

3. Eat only flowers that have been grown organically.

4. Do not eat flowers from florists, nurseries or garden centers (see Rule 3).

5. If you have hay fever, asthma or allergies, do not eat flowers.

6. Do not eat flowers picked from the side of the road. They are contaminated from car emissions (see Rule 3).

7. Remove pistils and stamens from flowers before eating. Eat only the petals.

8. Not all flowers are edible. Some are poisonous.

9. There are many varieties of any one flower. Flowers taste different when grown in different locations.

10. Introduce flowers into your diet the way you would new foods to a baby - one at a time in small quantities.

  ~Edible flowers Dos and Don'ts~

DO

1. Eat only those flowers that you can identify as safe and edible.

2. Go by the botanical names of the flowers. Common names vary from region to region and may be misleading.

3. Eat only those flowers that have been grown organically.

4. Eat only the petals of edible flowers - as a general rule, remove and discard the pistils and stamens before eating unless blooms are tiny, such as those of lilacs, lavender, and anise hyssop.

5. Introduce flowers into your diet gradually--in small quantities and one variety at a time.

DON'T

1. Assume that a flower is edible just because it's on a plate of food--whether in a restaurant or at a catered affair.

2. Be especially wary of flowers on wedding cakes.

3. Don't eat flowers if you have hay fever, asthma or allergies.

4. Don't eat flowers from florists, nurseries, garden centers, or public gardens where they're grown using chemicals, and don't pick them from along busy roads.

5. Don't assume that just because a flower smells good, it is edible; most flowers are inedible or poisonous.

Various Edible Flowers

Angelica ~ Anise Hyssop  ~ Bee Balm ~ Borage ~ Calendula ~ Carnation ~ Chamomile ~ Chrysanthemum ~ Clover ~ Coriander ~ Cilantro ~ Cornflower ~ Dandelion ~ Daylily ~ English Daisy ~ Geranium ~ Hibiscus ~ Lavender ~ Lilac ~ Marigold ~ Nasturtiums ~ Pansy ~ Roses ~