12 Edible Flowers to Grow Your Own Gourmet Garden

Known for their vibrant color and tart taste, hibiscus will brighten up your garden and your meals. Preserve the brightly hued flowers to give teas, syrups, and jams a cranberry-like flavor, or sprinkle the fresh petals over salads and desserts for a punchy pop. Keep in mind that hibiscus thrives in a sunny spot with well-draining soil, and since they’re tropical plants, they’ll need proper winter protection.

In some cuisines like Italian, squash blossoms are coveted delicacies because their harvest time is brief. The flowers can be fried, stuffed and baked, or added to pasta dishes and soups. Harvest the blossoms and use them in the same day. Of course, note that pulling off the blossom means the plant will not produce fruit!

Also called English daisy, the pretty little flowers of chamomile can be steeped to make a tea. It's not fussy and grows in most soils. Some types are annual while others are perennial, so read the plant description to know what kind you have. Note: If you're allergic to ragweed, you might want to avoid this plant, as it may affect you.

Butterfly lovers, this plant is for you! Not only do the pollinators flock to these bright orange or golden annuals, but they'll add a nice bitter zest to salads. Also called pot marigolds, they grow from seeds in the cooler weather months, as they don’t like heat.

This classic garden staple has a range of flavors from sweet to spicy. In general, the darker the petal, the more intense the flavor is. Petals can be added to ice cubes or sprinkled on cakes and added to ice cream. Choose newer types that are more disease-resistant so you won't constantly battle powdery mildew.

Both part of the genus Viola, both pansies and violet are beautiful little flowers with a delicate flavor. Use the petals or whole flowers to adorn cupcakes or add to salads. You can also candy violets or make a great tea with them. These are easy to grow and prefer cool weather.

This type of marigold has a pleasant bitter tang, perfect for use in teas, salads, or as a substitute for tarragon. Remove the bitter white part at the end of petals before consuming. It’s one of the easiest annuals to grow with few diseases or pests.

Lavender's flowers have a lovely, intensely sweet flavor. Use them baked in scones, added to teas, candied for cakes, or to dress up salads. Lavender is a perennial, so choose a type that will grow in your USDA Hardiness Zone and enjoy it year after year.

This little-known herb has edible leaves and beautiful blue flowers. Finely chop the leaves and add to salads for a light cucumber taste. They grow easily from seed and will reseed themselves for years in your garden.

This beautiful annual comes in an array of colors, including hot pinks, bright oranges, and golds. They’re the most versatile of the edible flowers. The pretty circular leaves, flowers, and seeds (which can be used a substitute for capers!) all add a peppery kick to salads. They’re incredibly easy to grow from seed, but soak the seed overnight first to help it germinate more easily.