wish you many happy edible adventures with the flowers in your life. Bon appétit!
RULES FOR EATING EDIBLE FLOWERS
WHAT FLOWERS ARE NOT EDIBLE?
Be aware that many innocent-looking and beautiful flowers are not to be eaten because they can cause toxic reactions and serious illness. Here is a partial list of common garden flowers that should not be consumed.
| Azalea | Rhododendron spp. |
| Boxwood | Buxus spp. |
| Burning Bush | Euonymus alatus and spp. |
| Caladium | Caladium x hortulanum |
| Clematis | Clematis spp. |
| Cosmos | Cosmos bipinnatus and C. sulphureus |
| Daffodil | Narcissus spp. |
| Delphinium | Delphinium elatum, D. consolida and spp. |
| Elephant ears | Colocasia esculenta |
| Four o’clocks | Mirabilis jalapa |
| Foxglove | Digitalis purpurea |
| Hyacinth | Hyacinthus spp. |
| Hydrangea | Hydrangea spp. |
| Iris | Iris versicolor and spp. |
| Ivy (English Ivy) | Hedera helix and spp. |
| Jack in the pulpit | Arisaema triphyllum |
| Lantana | Lantana camera |
| Lily of the Valley | Convalaria majus |
| Lobelia | Lobelia erinus, L. cardinalis |
| Morning glory | Ipomea purpurea and spp. |
| Mountain laurel | Kalmia latifolia |
| Oleander | Nerium oleander |
| Periwinkle | Vinca major, V. minor and spp. |
| Privet | Ligustrum spp. |
| Rhododendron | Rhododendron spp. |
| Sweet pea | Lathryus spp. |
| Wisteria | Wisteria spp. |
GATHERING AND PREPARING EDIBLE FLOWERS
When to gather
Gather flowers (and herbs) early in the morning before the heat of the day but after the dew has dried. The essential oils are most intense in the morning and the flower petals are filled with moisture. Rinse them in cool water only if needed to remove dirt and debris. (If you are keeping the flower whole, and the top of the flower is flat enough, you can place it upside down to allow moisture to drain out.)
Proper handling
Remove petals or flowers from stems at this time. With some flower petals, like roses or tulips, you should remove the white
