Which common UK flowers are secretly delicious?
In this guide, you’ll discover 15 common UK edible flowers that are safe to eat, easy to grow or forage, and full of personality.
Some are bold and peppery. Others are sweet and delicate.
You’ll learn what they taste like, how to use them, and important tips to keep things safe.
A Quick Note on Edible Flower Safety
Before you pick or eat any flower, remember these essential rules:
- ✅ Make sure you have the right plant and variety. Some flowers look alike but can be toxic.
- ✅ Only eat flowers that are unsprayed and grown without pesticides or chemicals.
- ✅ Forage from clean areas, away from roads, dog-walking routes, or polluted sites.
- ✅ Try small amounts first, especially if you’re allergic to pollen or new foods.
- ❌ Don’t eat florist or supermarket flowers unless they’re labelled food-safe.
1. Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)
Bright and bold, nasturtiums are one of the easiest edible flowers to grow in the UK.
They come in sunny shades of red, orange, and yellow.
Flavour: Peppery, a bit like watercress.
How to use: Add whole flowers to salads, or stuff with soft cheese. Petals can be sprinkled on open sandwiches or stirred through couscous. Bonus—young leaves and seeds are edible too.
2. Violas and Pansies (Viola spp.)
These little blooms look like they came straight from a fairytale.
You’ll often see them in window boxes, but they also shine on your plate.
Flavour: Mild, slightly sweet, sometimes grassy.
How to use: Press into icing or rolls of flavoured butter, float in drinks, or freeze into floral ice cubes.
3. Borage (Borago officinalis)
A favourite of bees and gardeners, borage has star-shaped blue flowers that are as pretty as they are tasty.
Flavour: Cucumber-like and refreshing.
How to use: Float flowers in Pimm’s, lemonade or cucumber water. Scatter over fruit salads.
4. Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
Often called pot marigold, this cheerful flower brings sunshine to any dish.
Flavour: Slightly peppery, tangy, with a saffron-like hint.
How to use: Pull apart the petals and stir into rice, pasta, or baked veg. Adds colour like saffron but without the cost.
5. Chive Blossoms (Allium schoenoprasum)
These lilac pom-poms are not just for show. They bring flavour and fun to your food.
Flavour: Mild onion.
How to use: Pull flowers apart and sprinkle on omelettes, soups, or baked potatoes.
6. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
Best used in small doses, English lavender adds fragrance and flavour to both sweet and savoury dishes.
Flavour: Floral, with a slight bitterness.
How to use: Use in shortbread, lemonade, or honey infusions. Also pairs beautifully with dark chocolate.
I hope you are enjoying this list of UK edible flowers, keep reading to discover more…
7. Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla)
A gentle herb with small daisy-like blooms, chamomile is famous for its soothing tea.
Flavour: Apple-like and floral.
How to use: Brew into a calming bedtime tea or use dried petals in biscuits. Only use German chamomile, not Roman chamomile during pregnancy.
8. Mint Flowers (Mentha spp.)
Mint leaves get all the attention, but the flowers are edible too—and they pack a punch!
Flavour: Sweet and minty.
How to use: Garnish puddings, make mint-infused tea, or use chocolate mint flowers on desserts.
9. Thyme Flowers (Thymus vulgaris)
These tiny pink or white flowers are delicate but strong in taste.
Flavour: Earthy and herby, like the leaves.
How to use: Sprinkle on roasted veg, blend into sauces, or use as a pizza topper.
10. Rose (Rosa spp.)
Romantic and fragrant, rose petals are a classic edible flower.
Flavour: Sweet and floral—stronger in scented varieties.
How to use: Remove the bitter white base of each petal. Use in syrups, rosewater, herbal tea or jam.
11. Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Often seen as a weed, dandelions are nutritious and tasty.
Flavour: Petals are sweet; the rest is slightly bitter.
How to use: Add to muffins, fritters or salads. You can also make dandelion honey or wine.
12. Clover (Trifolium pratense / T. repens)
Clover blossoms grow wild across the UK and are easy to spot in grassy fields.
Flavour: Mildly sweet and grassy.
How to use: Use in syrups, teas, or dry for herbal blends.
13. Primrose (Primula vulgaris)
One of the first flowers of spring, primroses are edible and utterly charming.
Flavour: Light, slightly sweet.
How to use: Crystallise with sugar for cake decorating, or float in spring punch.
14. Courgette Flowers (Cucurbita pepo)
Large, yellow, and floppy, these flowers are best known for being stuffed and fried.
Flavour: Mild and creamy.
How to use: Stuff with ricotta or goat cheese, then bake or shallow fry. Pick male flowers to avoid losing your fruit.
15. Daisy (Bellis perennis)
Common on lawns and loved by kids, daisies can brighten up your food, too.
Flavour: Mild, a bit grassy.
How to use: Decorate spring salads, press into cookies, or float in cocktails.
UK Edible Flowers in Everyday Cooking
Salads
Add whole flowers or petals for bursts of colour and taste. Try mixing peppery nasturtiums with cooling borage and delicate rose petals.
Drinks
Freeze petals in ice cubes for party drinks, or steep calming herbs like lavender and chamomile in tea.
Baking
Press flowers into biscuit dough or use as a cake topping. Crystallised flowers also keep longer.
Syrups and Vinegars
Infuse edible petals in honey, simple syrup, or apple cider vinegar for dressings or cocktails.
Savory Dishes
Top pasta, pizza, or grilled veg with thyme, chive or basil flowers for a gourmet finish.
Growing Your Own Edible Flowers
Many edible flowers are surprisingly easy to grow, even if you’re new to gardening. You don’t need a huge space—just a sunny windowsill, a few pots, or a small corner of your garden will do.
If you’re short on space, try growing nasturtiums, violas, or borage in containers. Nasturtiums are great for beginners—they grow fast, love poor soil, and don’t mind a bit of neglect. Their trailing stems look beautiful spilling over pots or hanging baskets. Violas are compact and flower for ages, especially if you keep picking the blooms. Borage can get quite big, so choose a deeper pot and give it some support.
Mix edible flowers in with herbs or salad greens for a colourful and practical kitchen garden. Calendula, for example, grows well alongside lettuce and helps attract pollinators. You could also tuck some chive flowers into your herb patch—they’re hardy and come back each year.
Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil, and try to avoid chemical fertilisers or sprays if you’re planning to eat the flowers. Water regularly, especially in hot weather, and keep picking the blooms to encourage more to grow.
To save money, sow from seed in spring. Many varieties like chamomile, thyme, and coriander can be started indoors or sown straight into the ground once the frost has passed. With just a little effort, you’ll have edible flowers ready to pick all summer long.
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UK Edible Flowers List: Final Words
Growing edible flowers is a fun and easy way to connect with nature, support pollinators, and make your food more exciting. Once you know what’s safe to pick and how to use them, the possibilities are endless.
If you’re starting out, begin with just a few flowers—nasturtium, viola, and borage are all brilliant for beginners. Then expand as your confidence grows.
Have you tried any of these blooms? What’s your favourite way to use edible flowers?
Let me know in the comments 🌸🌿
