foraging flowers

By Sarah Watson, forager

A list of over 50 edible flowers – just some of those you can find in gardens, urban places and the countryside in the UK and beyond. I’ll be adding additional info and some ideas for using them. Tasting notes are for flowers in the their raw state. For flower foraging tips and cautions, be sure to read my ‘Edible flower power‘ article.

As always, be 100% sure of your identification before eating and do research what you intend to eat – if in doubt, leave it out. Get wild food and drink tips and updates on my course dates on Facebook, or sign up for my e-newsletter (option to unsubscribe at any time).

Apple blossom

Latin name: Malus species.
Plant family: Rose – Rosaceae.
Plant notes: Apple blossom is a source of nectar and pollen for bees, butterflies and other insects, and bullfinches eat the buds. Birds, badgers, foxes, mice, voles and butterflies feed on fallen fruit.
Tasting notes: Rather bitter.
Uses: Decoration; infuse in honey; use to flavour jellies, cream and ice cream; dry for tea.
Caution: Flowers contain small amounts of cyanogenic compounds and should not be consumed in large quantities, especially raw.

Bellflower (Campanula)

Latin name: Campanula species
Plant notes: Campanulaceae – bellflower
Tasting notes:
Uses:
Flowering time:
Caution:

Blackthorn (sloe blossom)

Latin name: Prunus spinosa
Plant family: Rosaceae – Rose
Plant notes: Native to the UK. Great for many species of wildlife, especially butterflies, moths and other insects.
Tasting notes: Bitter almond.
Uses: Decorative and good for flavouring sweet dishes and making syrup.
Flowering time: Early spring.
Caution: Flowers contain cyanogenic compounds and should not be consumed in large quantities, especially raw.

Borage

Latin name: Borago officinalis
Plant family: Boraginaceae – Borage
Plant notes:
Tasting notes: Cucumber flavour.
Uses: Decorative, and in Pimms, fruit cups and cocktails – acidity changes petal colour from blue to pink. Good for sweet or savoury dishes and salads.
Flowering time: Spring to autumn.
Caution:

Carnation (see Pinks)

Chamomile (German) or scented mayweed

Latin name: Matricaria chamomilla
Plant family: Asteraceae – Daisy
Plant notes:
Tasting notes: Fruity and floral with vanilla notes.
Uses: Decorative and good for flavouring sweet dishes and making syrup. Dries well and is used to make tea as well as in baking.
Flowering time: Summer and autumn.
Caution: Can cause allergy symptoms, especially in those with ragweed/daisy allergies. Contains coumarin so avoid potential drug interactions, e.g. with blood thinners.

Cherry blossom

Latin name: Prunus species
Plant family: Rosaceae – Rose
Plant notes:
Tasting notes:
Uses:
Flowering time:
Caution: Flowers contain small amounts of cyanogenic compounds and should not be consumed in large quantities, especially raw.

Chive blossom

Latin name: Allium schoenoprasum
Plant family: Amaryllis family – Amaryllidaceae
Plant notes:
Tasting notes: Like sweet chives.
Uses: Decorative and flavouring for savoury dishes, use to flavour vinegar and pickle whole flowerheads.
Flowering time:
Caution:

Cornflower

Latin name: Centaurea cyanus
Plant family: Asteraceae – Daisy
Plant notes:
Tasting notes:
Uses:
Flowering time:
Caution:

Daisy (common)

Latin name: Bellis perennis
Plant family: Asteraceae – Daisy
Plant notes: Native to the UK.
Tasting notes: Mild, slightly soapy and drying in the mouth.
Uses: Decorative and good for sweet and savoury dishes.
Flowering time: Spring, summer
Caution:

Dandelion

Latin name: Taraxacum officinale
Plant family: Asteraceae – Daisy
Plant notes: Native to the UK.
Tasting notes: Slightly sweet and lettuce like with the bitter green parts removed.
Uses: Decorative and good for sweet and savoury dishes.
Flowering time: Spring, summer.
Caution: Watch out for seed ‘fluff’ as flowers get older – noone wants a mouthful of fluff!

Darwin’s barberry

Latin name: Berberis darwinii
Plant family: Berberidaceae – barberry
Plant notes: Often planted as an ornamental hedge.
Tasting notes: Tangy, lemony and a little bitter.
Uses: Decorative and good for sweet and savoury dishes, drinks and cocktails. Blend with sugar.
Flowering time: Early spring.
Caution: Contains berberine.

Elderflower

Latin name: Sambucus nigra
Plant family: Adoxaceae – Elder
Plant notes:
Tasting notes: Floral, honey, citrus, vanilla.
Uses:
Flowering time: Early to mid-summer.
Caution:

Fennel

Latin name: Foeniculum vulgare
Plant family: Carrot  – Apiaceae
Plant notes:
Tasting notes: Spicy, honeyed and anise-like.
Uses:
Flowering time:
Caution: plant sap is mildly phototoxic so can cause a skin reaction in the sun.

Flowering currant

Latin name: Ribes sanguineum
Plant family: Grossulariaceae – gooseberry
Plant notes:
Tasting notes: Herbal – a little like thyme with floral notes.
Uses:
Flowering time: Early spring.
Caution:

Flowering (Japanese) quince

Latin name: Chaenomeles species
Plant family: Rosaceae – Rose
Plant notes:
Tasting notes: Quite bitter.
Uses:
Flowering time:
Caution: Flower may contain small amounts of cyanogenic compounds and should not be consumed in large quantities, especially raw.

Forget-me-not

Latin name: Myosotis sylvatica
Plant family: Boraginaceae – Borage
Plant notes:
Tasting notes: mild cucumber flavour.
Uses: Decorative, in drinks, cocktails and flower ice cubes. Good for sweet or savoury dishes.
Flowering time: Late spring, early summer
Caution:

Fuschia

Latin name: Fuchsia species
Plant family: Onagraceae – willowherb
Plant notes:
Tasting notes: Crunchy, lettuce-like and with varying degrees of bitterness.
Uses: Decorative.
Flowering time:
Caution:

Garlic mustard
Latin name: Alliaria petiolata
Plant family: Cabbage – Brassicaceae
Plant notes:
Tasting notes:
Uses:
Flowering time: Spring
Caution:

Gorse
Latin name: Ulex europaeus
Plant family: Pea – Fabaceae
Plant notes:
Tasting notes: Slightly oily and pea-like. The coconut flavour is brought out with the addition of sugar.
Uses: Decorative.
Flowering time: Mainly October to May.
Caution:

Green alkanet
Latin name: Pentaglottis sempervirens
Plant family: Boraginaceae – Borage
Plant notes:
Tasting notes: Mildly cucumbery.
Uses: Decorative, and in Pimms and fruit cups. Good for sweet or savouriy dishes – acidity changes petal colour.
from blue to pink.
Caution:

Ground ivy
Latin name: Glechoma hederacea
Plant family: Lamiaceae – Mint
Plant notes:
Tasting notes:
Uses:
Caution:

Hawthorn

Latin name: Crataegeus monogyna
Plant family: Rose – Rosaceae
Plant notes:
Tasting notes:
Uses:
Flowering time: April, May
Caution:

Herb Robert

Latin name: Geranium robertianum
Plant family: Geraniaceae – Geranium
Plant notes:
Tasting notes: Herbal and quite earthy.
Uses:
Flowering time:
Caution:

Honesty

Latin name: Lunaria annua
Plant family: Brassicaceae – Cabbage
Plant notes:
Tasting notes: Hot with a wasabi kick.
Uses:
Flowering time:
Caution:

Honeysuckle

Latin name: Lonicera periclymenum
Plant family: Caprifoliaceae or honeysuckle
Plant notes:
Tasting notes:
Uses:
Flowering time:
Caution:

Lavender (English)

Latin name: Lavandula angustifolia
Plant family: Lamiaceae – Mint
Plant notes:
Tasting notes
Uses:
Flowering time:
Caution:

Lilac

Latin name: Syringa vulgaris
Plant family: Oleaceae – Olive
Plant notes:
Tasting notes:
Uses:
Flowering time: April, May
Caution:

Lime (linden)
Latin name: Tilia species
Plant family: Malvaceae – mallow
Plant notes:
Tasting notes:
Uses:
Flowering time:
Caution:

Magnolia

Latin name: Magnolia species
Plant family: Magnoliaceae – Magnolia
Plant notes:
Tasting notes: Crunchy, spicy and gingery with a chicory bitterness.
Uses:
Flowering time: Early spring
Caution:

Common mallow
Latin name: Malva sylvestris
Plant family: Malvaceae – mallow
Plant notes:
Tasting notes:
Uses:
Flowering time:
Caution:

Marigold
Latin name: Tagetes species.
Plant family: Asteraceae – Daisy
Plant notes:
Tasting notes:
Uses:
Flowering time:
Caution:

Meadowsweet
Latin name: Filipendula ulmaria
Plant family: Rosaceae – Rose
Plant notes:
Tasting notes:
Uses:
Flowering time:
Caution: Contains coumarin so avoid potential drug interactions, e.g. with blood thinners.

Nasturtium

Latin name: Tropaeolum majus
Plant family: Cabbage – Brassicaceae
Plant notes:
Tasting notes: Floral and peppery.
Uses: Salad, pickle the buds like capers.
Flowering time:
Caution:

Oxalis
Latin name: Oxalis species
Plant family:
Plant notes:
Tasting notes:
Uses:
Flowering time:
Caution:

Pansy

Latin name: Viola
Plant family:
Plant notes:
Tasting notes:
Uses:
Flowering time:
Caution:

Pineappleweed

Latin name: Matricaria discoidea
Plant family: Daisy – Asteraceae
Plant notes: An introduced, naturalised and widespread plant.
Tasting notes: Aromatic, bitter pineapple.
Uses: Herbal tea, syrup, fruity baking and dessert flavouring and booze infusion.
Flowering time: Spring to autumn,

Pinks (and carnations)

Latin name: Dianthus species
Plant family: Pinks – Caryophyllaceae
Plant notes: Many thousands of garden cultivars have been bred.
Tasting notes: Slightly spicy with a hint of clove.
Uses: Decoration, salads, infuse in wine and flavour desserts.
Flowering time: Spring and summer.
Caution:

Pot marigold

Latin name: Calendula officinalis
Plant family:
Plant notes:
Tasting notes: Herbal.
Uses:
Flowering time:
Caution:

Primrose

Latin name: Primula vulgaris
Plant family: Primulaceae – Primula
Plant notes:
Tasting notes:
Uses:
Flowering time: Early spring
Caution:

Rosemary
Latin name: Salvia rosemarinus
Plant family:
Plant notes: Delicate rosemary flavour.
Tasting notes:
Uses:
Flowering time:
Caution:

Red clover
Latin name: Trifolium pratense
Plant family: Pea – Fababaceae
Plant notes: Sweet, delicate pea flavour.
Tasting notes:
Uses:
Flowering time:
Caution: Contains coumarin.

Rose

Latin name: Rosa species
Plant family: Rose – Rosaceae
Plant notes:
Tasting notes:
Uses:
Flowering time:
Caution:

Rosebay willowherb

Latin name: Chamerion angustifolium
Plant family: Onagraceae – willowherbs
Plant notes:
Tasting notes:
Uses:
Flowering time:
Caution:

Rosy Garlic

Latin name: Allium roseum 
Plant family: Amaryllis family – Amaryllidaceae
Plant notes:
Tasting notes: Spring onion-flavoured.
Uses: Decorative or savoury flavouring.
Flowering time:
Caution:

Speedwell

Latin name: Veronica chamaedrys
Plant family: Plantaginaceae – plantain
Plant notes:
Tasting notes: Earthy, slightly bitter and insubstantial.
Uses:
Flowering time:
Caution:

Stitchwort (greater and lesser)

Latin name: Stellaria holostea and Stellaria graminea
Plant family: Pinks – Caryophyllaceae
Plant notes:
Tasting notes: Like raw sweetcorn, insubstantial.
Uses:
Flowering time:
Caution:

Three-cornered leek

Latin name: Allium triquetrum
Plant family: Amaryllis family – Amaryllidaceae
Plant notes: Invasive, non native plant.
Tasting notes: Mildly oniony.
Uses:
Flowering time:
Caution:

Tulip

Latin name: Tulipa species.
Plant family: Liliaceae – Lily
Plant notes: Cultivated.
Tasting notes: Crunchy, slightly sweet and lettuce-like.
Uses:
Flowering time:
Caution: Tulips can cause allergic reactions and the bulbs contain toxins. Only the petals are edible, and it’s recommended to remove the pistil and stamens from the centre of the blossom. 

Vetch (Common)

Latin name: Vicia sativa
Plant family: Pea – Fabaceae
Plant notes: The flowers attract many kinds of insects including bumblebees.
Tasting notes: Delicate pea flavour.
Uses: Decoration.
Flowering time: Spring to autumn
Caution: Seeds can be toxic when older or if eaten in large quantities.

Violet

Latin name: Viola species
Plant family: Violet – Violaceae
Plant notes:
Tasting notes:
Uses:
Flowering time:
Caution:

White deadnettle
Latin name: Lamium album
Plant family: Mint – Lamiaceae
Plant notes:
Tasting notes: Herbal.
Uses:
Flowering time: Early spring to early winter.
Caution:

Wild garlic

Latin name: Allium ursinum
Plant family: Amaryllis family – Amaryllidaceae
Plant notes:
Tasting notes: Garlicky with a slight sweetness.
Uses:
Flowering time:
Caution:

Wild mustard (charlock)
Latin name:
Plant family: Cabbage – Brassicaceae
Plant notes:
Tasting notes: Hot and mustardy.
Uses:
Flowering time:
Caution:

Wintercress

Latin name: Barbarea vulgaris 
Plant family: Cabbage – Brassicaceae
Plant notes:
Tasting notes: hot and peppery with a bitter aftertaste, best with salty, oily foods like mackerel pate.
Uses:
Flowering time:
Caution:

Wisteria
Latin name: Wisteria sinensis
Plant family: Fabaceae – Pea
Plant notes:
Tasting notes: Mild pea and floral flavours
Uses:
Flowering time:
Caution:

Wood sorrel
Latin name: Oxalis ascetosella
Plant family: Wood-sorrel – Oxalidaceae
Plant notes:
Tasting notes:
Uses:
Flowering time:
Caution:

Yarrow
Latin name: Achillea millefolium
Plant family: Asteraceae – Daisy
Plant notes:
Tasting notes:
Uses:
Flowering time:
Caution:

Yellow archangel

Latin name: Lamium galeobdolon
Plant family: Mint – Lamiaceae
Plant notes:
Tasting notes: Herbal.
Uses:
Flowering time:
Caution:

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Happy foraging!