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#150328 October 9th, 2006 at 09:12 AM
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Here is a list I found on edible plants that we can grow rather easily or they are already growing wild or tame in your area gardens. Enjoy!


Edible flowers or Foliage
Below you'll find a list of over 70 edible plants. If the Botanical Name is underlined, click it for a more complete description.

Please use the same precautions you would with any other edible plant.


A = annual B = biennial TP = tender perennial H = herb S = shrub T = tree P = perennial


Common Name Botanical Name Type of plant Edible Parts Cautions Comments
Anise-hyssop Agastache foeniculum
P flowers, foliage Eat in moderation May cause allergies
Apple blossoms Malus selections TFlower petals Eat in moderation
Arugula Eruca vesicaria sativa A H flowers, foliage
Basil Ocimum spp. A H flowers, foliage
Beebalm Monarda spp.
P flowers, foliage
Begonia, Tuberous Begonia (tuberous only) TP flower petals Eat in moderation
Borage Borago officinalis A V flower petals
Broccoli Brassica oleracea A V flower petals May cause allergies
Burnet Sanguisorba minor P HFlowers, foliage
Calendula Calendula officinalis A flower petals Avoid eating flower center and pollen May cause allergies
Carnation Dianthus caryophyllus
P flower petals Green calyx is bitter
Cauliflower Brassica oleracea A V flower petals May cause allergies
Chamomile, German Matricaria recutita A H flower petals Avoid eating flower center and pollen May cause allergies
Chamomile, Roman Chamaemelum nobile
P H flower petals Avoid eating flower center and pollen May cause allergies
Chervil Anthriscus cerefolium A HFlowers, foliage
Chicory Cichorium intybus P H flower petals Avoid eating flower center and pollen May cause allergies
Chives Allium schoenoprasum
P H flowers, foliage
Chrysanthemum (garden mum) Chrysanthemum morifolium
P flower petals Avoid eating flower center and pollen May cause allergies
Cilantro Coriandrum sativum A H flowers, foliage
Clary Sage Salvia sclarea turkestanica B flower petals
Cornflower, annual Centaurea cyanus A flower petals Avoid eating flower center and pollen May cause allergies
Cowslip Primrose Primula veris
P flower petals
Daylilies Hemerocallis 1 Hemerocallis 2
P
Dianthus Dianthus spp.
P flower petals Green calyx is bitter
Dill Anethum graveolens A H flowers, foliage
Elder, Common Sambucus nigra S flower heads, fruit
English Daisy Bellis perennis
B flower petals Avoid eating flower center and pollen May cause allergies
Fennel Foeniculum vulgare A H flowers, foliage
Fuchsia Fuchsia spp. TP flower petals
Garden Pea (NOT Sweet Pea) Pisum sativum A V flower petals
Garlic Chives Allium tuberosum P H flowers, foliage
Geranium, Scented Pelargonium spp. TP flower petals
Gladiolus Gladiolus spp. TP flower petals Avoid eating flower center and pollen May cause allergies
Hibiscus (indoor) Hibiscus rosa-sinensis TR flower petals
Hollyhock Alcea rosea
B flower petals
Hyssop Hyssopus officinalis P H flowers, foliage
Lavender Lavandula spp.
P H flower petals
Lemon Balm Melissa officinalis
P H flowers, foliage
Lemon blossoms Citrus limon TR flower petals
lilac Syringa vulgaris S flower petals
Lovage Levisticum officinale P H flowers, foliage Avoid eating flower center and pollen May cause allergies
Marigold Tagetes spp. A flower petals Avoid eating flower center and pollen May cause allergies
Marjoram Origanum majorana A H flowers, foliage
Mint Mentha spp. P H flowers, foliage
Mustard Brassica spp. A V flower petals May cause allergies
Nasturtium Tropaeolum majus A H flowers, foliage
Okra Abelmoschus aesculentus A V flower petals
Orange blossoms Citrus sinensis T R flower petals
Oregano Origanum vulgare
P H flowers, foliage
Ox-eye Daisy Leucanthemum vulgare P flower petals Avoid eating flower center and pollen May cause allergies
Pansies Viola wittrockiana P A flower petals
Peach blossoms Prunus spp. T flower petals Eat in moderation
Plum blossoms Prunus spp. T flower petals Eat in moderation
Primrose, English Primula vulgaris
P flower petals
Radish Raphanus sativus A V flower petals May cause allergies
Redbud, Eastern Cercis canadensis T flower petals
rose Rosaspp. S Remove bitter white ends
Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis
P H flowers, foliage
rose-of-Sharon Hibiscus syriacus S flower petals
Safflower Carthamus tinctorius A flower petals Avoid eating flower center and pollen May cause allergies
Sage, Common Salvia officinalis
P H flowers, foliage
Sage, Pineapple Salvia elegans TP H flowers, foliage
Savory, Summer Satureja hortensis A H flowers, foliage
Savory, Winter Satureja montana P H flowers, foliage
Scarlet Runner Bean Phaseolus coccineus A V flower petals
Society Garlic Tulbaghia violacea TP H flower petals
Squash blossoms Cucurbita spp. A V Entire flower
Striped Mallow Malva sylvestris
B flower petals
Sunflower Helianthus annuus A Petals only Avoid eating flower center and pollen May cause allergies
Sweet Woodruff Galium odoratum
P Entire flower
Thyme Thymus spp.
P H flowers, foliage
Violets Viola spp.
P A flower petals
Yucca Yucca filamentosa Petals only Eat in moderation
Zucchini blossoms Cucurbita spp. A V Entire flower

#150329 October 9th, 2006 at 07:40 PM
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Great list!
Thanks Cece

#150330 October 9th, 2006 at 09:44 PM
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The Garden Helper
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#150331 October 14th, 2006 at 08:39 PM
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thumbup very nice bill. i didn't know all that and i didn't know all that was here. i have a lot of surfing to do!

#150332 October 20th, 2006 at 01:57 AM
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You can also steap Elkhorn Sumac berries in hot water to make a delicious raspberry/lemon flavored tea. Lamb's Quarter makes a tasty green to add to salads or eat alone. Redbud blossoms have a lemony\peanut flavor and are quite good. Violet blossoms can be made into delicious jellies. Wild Ginger root not only makes a tasty spicy seasoning it also temporarily deadens the nerves in the mouth and throat making it good for sore throat and mouth pain. Poke Salet makes delicious spinach-like greens, BUT! It must be cut in early spring when it is 1-1 1/2 feet high and then boiled and COMPLETELY drained 3-5 times before eating. This plant is quite toxic if not prepared in this way, but if you cut it young and boil and drain it several times to leach out the poisons it is quite safe, delicious, and VERY nutricious.

These are all things I have PERSONALLY tried MANY times and highly recommend. Edible and medicinal WILD plants have always been my primary interest in gardening.

#150333 October 20th, 2006 at 07:25 AM
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Thornius, have you ever had that miner's lettuce?
And have you made tea of pennyroyal? I read that now pennyroyal is being considered toxic, but I saw it at the Target garden center. Also, have you tried those "wild carrots" called gobo?
By violets, do you mean the meadow violets? I grow the Queen Charlotte variety because the fragrance is so strongly beautiful.
Loved your post !
Wild foods might make an interesting new thread.

#150334 October 20th, 2006 at 09:47 AM
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Deborah as a boy in the mountains of North Carolina we used to eat something the locals called , "Branch Lettuce". It looked like leaf lettuce and they would pour hot grease mixed with vinegar over it to make it, "Kilt". They would call it, "Kilt Lettuce". Watercress grows ABUNDANTLY in the very clean springs and brooks here and makes a delicious, peppery flavored snack when I am birdwatching. In the Fall (right now), we have Persimmons, fox grapes, and Hickory nuts, EVERYWHERE to munch on, or in certain areas Muscadine grapes grow wild. Some folks call these, "Scarpenongs". I coulkd go on and on for hours.

#150335 October 21st, 2006 at 12:54 PM
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I cannot even remotely imagine being surrounded by wild edibles like that. The nuts especially !
Did you ever read "My Side of the Mountain" when you were a kid? I loved that book. Your post reminded of it.

#150336 October 22nd, 2006 at 07:22 PM
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Quote
Originally posted by Deborah L.:

And have you made tea of pennyroyal? I read that now pennyroyal is being considered toxic, but I saw it at the Target garden center.
from my herb book
"pennyroyal...commonly used in 19th century medicine to induce perspiration at the beginning of a cold and to promote menstruation. It was taken also with brewers yeast to induce abortion {{sounds toxic to me}}.....American Indians used pennyroyal tea for headache, menstrual cramps, and pain.... caution, should not be used during pregnancy..."
European pennyroyal oil is used as an insect repellant.

#150337 October 23rd, 2006 at 12:30 AM
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Sheesh-certainly a mixed bag of tricks with that one !


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