Edible Flowers

2012-11-13T05:32:33.000Z

I posted this in the forum, but I thought I would post it here as well, since it is on topic! :)

I read that the great apes eat flowers as a portion of their diet. I also read that most flowers are edible! Cool! Does anyone eat flowers or do you know which ones are edible or not edible?

I think they could add some good nutrition - just like some people eat bee pollen, you could get the same thing from eating the pollen in the flowers.

I don't know too many edible flowers. Obviously you'd want to make sure they were organic or similar so you don't eat sprayed flowers.

I found this list from Wikipedia:

Common edible flowers

Artichoke (flower bud)
Broccoli (flower buds)
Cauliflower (flower buds)
Caper (flower buds)
Chamomile (for tea)
Cannabis (flowers or buds)
Chives (flowers or buds)
Chrysanthemum (flower)
Citrus blossoms (lemon, orange, lime, grapefruit)
Clover (Trifolium)
Daisies (Bellis perennis quills)
Dandelions (Taraxacum officinale leaves, roots, flowers, petals, buds)
Daylilies (Hemerocallis buds, flowers, petals)
Elderflower (blossoms for drink)
Hibiscus
Honeysuckle
Jasmine (for tea)
Lilac (salads)
Moringa oleifera
Nasturtium (blossoms and seeds)
Osmanthus fragrans (flower)
Pansies (Viola x Wittrockiana flowers, petals)
Pot Marigolds (Calendula officinalis petals with white heel removed)
Roses (Rosa petals with white heel removed, rose hips)
Sesbania grandiflora (flower)
Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus buds, petals, seeds)
Violet ('leaf and flowers in salads, candied flowers for pastry decoration')
Zucchini blossoms (blossoms)

Risks

Some flowers are toxic, others may be edible only after appropriate preparations. Toxic flowers may be misidentified as edible when gathered. Allergic reactions are possible, especially from eating pollen. Both gathered flowers and those from a commercial grower may have been sprayed with toxic pesticides. Damaged, dirty or insect-ridden flowers may be unsafe to eat. Some flowers, like Madhuca longifoliaare not safe if eaten often.

List of edible Weeds

2010-01-04T09:51:08.000Z

A good way to start would be to all make lists of what we already know to be common weeds that are edible.Photos would also be helpful, but not essential, that is something that those that are committed can go out and research for themselves (if they don't already know exactly what the common weed already is) once they have the name.Some of the ones that have been mentioned so far are- Nettles- Dandelion- Purslane- Young grape leavesPlease continue...I'm trying to get my hands on a copy of Isabell Shippard's books 'how can i use herbs in my daily life' and 'how can i be prepared with self-sufficiency and survival foods?' these are jam packed with the edibles.Green Smoothies are an important part of my diet, i travel a lot and people don't always have the usual cultivated greens in their garden, so often i go off and find what ever weeds i can to get my green hit. I too am after a sturdy list.look forward to learning form you.XxxJ

The Frugivore Diet

Edible Flowers

Common edible flowers

Risks

List of edible Weeds