Growing edible flowers is the perfect way to brighten up your garden and add some tasty, nutritious flavor to your favorite dishes. Use our guides down below to find growing tips and species selection to plant the perfect varieties in your garden.
You may be surrounded by edible flowers without even knowing it. Dianthus, begonia, and forsythia? Edible. Forget-me-nots, yuccas, and gladiolus? Delicious. Whether you want a little something to act as a colorful garnish, or you’re serious about using flowers to add flavor to your recipes, there are so many options.
Home gardeners can grow sunflowers as a cover crop that will prevent erosion, build soil, retain moisture, and suppress weeds. This atypical choice provides flowers and seed heads for the birds while building your raised bed or garden soil. This guide explains how to grow the flowers for maximum benefit and beauty.
Best uses for black oil sunflowers include native and wildlife plantings, flower gardens, and microgreens. The disease-resistant plants have striking blooms that produce seeds that appeal to songbirds and pollinators alike. Our tips make it simple to grow your own supply of birdseed for the winter. Read more now.
Tasty, easy-care edible flowers, pansies come in an array of patterns and colors. Grow them in cool weather to yield edible blooms for garnishes, herb butter, and salads. Our guide provides important safety recommendations for growing flowers to eat, and tips for harvesting pansy blossoms all season long. Read more.
All parts of the nasturtium plant are edible with flowers available in dozens of appealing shades, from pastels to deep purple, bright orange, and red. Both vining and compact varieties yield blooms for salads or garnishes and seed pods to pickle. Learn how to harvest, and discover tips to encourage the most blossoms.
Get creative with calendula flowers! You’ll be inspired to use this healing herb when you read our guide, with tips for making infused oils and teas as well as medicinal tinctures and salves. This vibrant flower is the perfect plant for those just starting on their herbalism path who want to grow their own botanicals.
A robust woody subshrub, lavender is loved for its easy cultivation, beautiful purple flowers, and intense, sweet fragrance. English varieties are best for cold winters, French and Spanish types are good in high humidity, and lavandins grow pretty much anywhere. Learn how to grow lavender in any climate in this guide.
Nasturtiums are generally low-maintenance, which is one of the things that makes them so nice to have around in the garden. For the most part, you don’t need to worry about pruning or deadheading. But there can come a time when you’ll need to deal with spent flowers, and we’re going to explain when and how. Read more.
The African marigold (Tagetes erecta) is a vigorous annual that produces massive four-inch flower heads. Blooms in shades of orange, red, gold, and lemon will tower over your garden in the best way, and these plants can work triple-duty as ornamentals, edibles, and organic pest control within your garden. Read more.
Are marigolds part of your culinary repertoire? They should be! These flowers make a nice addition to a variety of savory dishes, and desserts too. Use them in tomato or cucumber salad, egg or chicken dishes, or a sandwich. Amp up homemade biscotti or a trifle. Learn how to make the most of edible marigolds now.
If you’re looking for a big display that doesn’t take much work to fill up your porch or patio, marigolds fit the bill. These sturdy flowers are extremely forgiving but you don’t have to sacrifice color or big blossoms. Gardener’s Path shows you how to succeed with growing marvelous marigolds in containers. Read more.
Signet marigolds (Tagetes tenuifolia) perform triple-duty in your garden as showy ornamentals, tasty edibles, and organic pest control. You can add color to your garden and use the lemony-citrus flavored flowers as a tasty garnish to your meals. Learn how to plant and grow signet marigolds in this guide. Read more now.
Pansies are a favorite for many flower gardeners, available in a wide selection of colors, trailing or mounding growth habits, and small, medium, and large flower sizes. But what type should you choose for your garden? Learn more about 19 of the best pansy series and cultivars and discover your favorites. Read more now.
Snapdragons make a colorful statement in the garden with their upright flower stalks in a wide range of hues. They are available in a wide range of heights, flower types, growth habits, and colors. In this guide, you’ll learn about 23 of the best snapdragon series and cultivars to grow in your garden. Read more now.
It’s no surprise if you’ve ever been confused by all the different snapdragon groups, series, and flower types. There’s a broad range of colors, growth habits, heights, ideal growing seasons, and patterns available. Knowing the difference and discovering the best options will help you decide which suits your space.
Don’t be fooled by the haters, French marigolds are magical. They are sometimes dismissed as cheap and common, but they’re pretty fantastic. They deter pests and attract beneficial insects while adding color to the garden. You can also eat them or use them as a dye. Learn how to make the most of French marigolds now.
Sporting vibrant blooms that open like a dragon’s mouth when pinched, snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus) are a fun, fragrant garden addition. This sun- and cool-weather-loving plant is a popular cut flower too. Learn everything you need to know to propagate snapdragons from seed in this guide. Read more now.
There are so many different marigolds to choose from for your veggie garden or flower beds. It can be hard to know which to pick when they are all so gorgeous, but learning about features such as bloom type, color, and size can help inform your choice. Keep reading to learn about 31 of the best types of marigolds.
With their dragon-head-shaped blooms, snapdragons are popular fragrant flowers that are perfect for cut arrangements. Though easy to propagate from seed, this can be time consuming. Check out our guide to learn how to speed up the propagation process by rooting cuttings taken from your existing plants. Read more now.
Not all flowers love growing in pots as much as they do the ground, but snapdragons do well in containers. Our guide will teach you how to find the right pot, cultivar, soil, and location for your flowers so that they thrive. We’ll also show you how to plant and maintain your fabulous flowers. Read more now.
Snapdragons are confusing. They can return year after year, but most of us grow them as annuals. What’s the deal? Are they annuals? Perennials? Biennials? Why do they sometimes survive in freezing climates and how can you ensure they stick around? In this guide, we’ll sort through the misinformation to find the truth.
Beloved for their vivid colors, fanciful fringes, and sweetly spicy fragrance, large pinks are short-lived perennials in the Dianthus genus. Easily cultivated, they add charm to garden settings from ground covers to rockeries and make fantastic cut flowers. Learn how to plant and grow large pinks in this guide.
Snapdragon flowers are edible, as are the leaves and the seeds, but not everyone is a fan of the flavor. If you love bitter veggies such as radicchio and endive, you’ll love snapdragons too. Even if you aren’t a fan of bitter plants, there are ways to use the blossoms and leaves that will have your taste buds singing.
Do you want to grow pansies, violets, or violas in your flower bed but aren’t sure when they bloom? Here’s a hint: it all depends on your growing zone. Pansies are among the easiest flowers to grow, so you won’t want to miss adding them to your garden. Learn all about pansy bloom times in this guide. Read more now.
Flowers in the Viola genus – violets, violas, and pansies – are some of the easiest flowers to grow. So why not grow them indoors? Extend the growing season or simply add some cheer to your indoor window sills by planting and growing violets as houseplants. We’ll cover all you need to know in this guide. Read more now.
Think you can’t grow fuchsia in your area? These elegant bloomers are reputed to be delicate tropical annuals that are tossed out at season’s end, but hardy perennial fuchsias can actually survive in surprisingly cold climates. Read on for all the info you need to be able to enjoy your fuchsias year after year.
No garden space? No problem! You can grow dwarf and mid-size varieties of sunflowers in pots or planters. This guide includes the best container growing tips and techniques. Choose the top sunflowers, a full sun spot, and sow wisely, and soon you’ll have your own pot of golden flowers for seed or floral arrangements.
Among the best sunflower varieties to grow in the garden, some are perennial and others annual. Our guide explains how to tell the two apart using botanical names and other clues. Then, choose the type that will work best for your growing situation. Is your sunflower a perennial? With these tips, you’ll know for sure.
Honeysuckles are beautiful, fragrant, and survive in all kinds of environments, which is why they’ve become a garden staple. Picking the right one for your space is the key to success since some are invasive and may cause serious problems. In this guide, we’ll talk about all of your options and how to make them thrive.
Selecting the best sunflower cultivar to grow in your garden is a labor of love. This guide introduces many of the most popular, including mammoth seed-producers, sweet dwarfs for container gardening, and mid-size favorites in a range of colors. Discover 15 of the most popular sunflower varieties to choose from now.
Why are your sunflowers drooping? Whether the flowers are facing the ground or your seedlings are slumped, you can use these tips to play detective and possibly revive them. Causes include pests, transplant shock, and seed heads forming. Learn ways to spot trouble and possible solutions with this handy guide.
If you’ve ever seen a purple, yellow, and white Johnny-jump-up nodding at you from a flower bed, you know how sweet and pretty these flowers are. But what you may not know is that Johnny-jump-ups are also tough and low maintenance, making them perfect plants for many gardeners. Learn how to grow them in our guide.
Bachelor’s buttons are easy to grow in early spring, but you can still help them along by deadheading spent flowers. The technique is simple, but it’s important to know when and how to trim dead flowers from these old-fashioned annuals. Make cornflower plants fuller and discourage reseeding by following these tips.
The secret to the best-looking marigolds is deadheading. These flowers excel at being an easy-care option that’s perfect for beginners. You’d be hard pressed to find another annual that keeps looking great throughout the season to this degree, with minimal fuss. Learn more in our guide to deadheading marigolds.
Also known as cornflowers, bachelor’s buttons are fairly simple to grow from seed when you follow these instructions. They’re pretty and practical, great for edible blooms, container gardening, and attracting pollinators. This tried-and-true seed-sowing advice will help you get more blooms and avoid rookie mistakes.
Lots of plants can be propagated by saving the seeds and planting them the following year, and fuchsias are no exception. Did you know that those little berries that stay behind when the flowers fall contain the seeds of the plant? This guide will show you how to harvest and store them for planting later. Read more.
There are many reasons why your fuchsia may start to wilt and droop, like too much or too little water, hot temperatures, or various pests and diseases. Our guide will help you figure out which problem is causing your wilting woes and how to address it, so that your fuchsia can perk back up to its usual beautiful self.
When your easy-care, cheerful sunflower plants refuse to bloom, the cause could be a disease, poor location, or a sunflower variety that takes a while to flower. To get to the root of the problem, check out these possible explanations and what to do for each. Here’s how to coax your sunflowers to bloom. Read more.
Have you ever looked at a pretty fuchsia plant and wondered if you could eat it? Well, you can! Our guide walks you through the ins and outs of the incredible, edible fuchsia. From the flowers and leaves to the flavorful berries, we’ll tell you when to harvest, which ones taste best, and how to use them in the kitchen.
Fuchsias are fussy about the amount of water they want. They can’t tolerate dry soil at all. But at the same time, soggy roots will kill them off pretty quickly. The challenge is figuring out the right amount of water and when to apply it. This guide will arm you with the knowledge you need to make your plants happy.
If you want to keep your fuchsias looking fabulous, you need to know how to deadhead them the right way. While the flowers fall on their own, they leave behind seed pods that may signal the plant to stop producing blossoms. This guide will help you prevent that from happening so you can keep enjoying the colorful show.
Bright and vibrant, nasturtiums are easy to grow and low maintenance. Nimble and fast growing, they’re fantastic climbers, fillers, spillers, and ground covers. They’re also edible and make an excellent companion plant in the vegetable plot. Learn how to plant and grow nasturtiums in this guide. Read more now.
There is nothing more disappointing than finding caterpillars chewing the seedlings to bits, aphids sucking on the stems, or larvae wriggling in the flower heads of the sunflowers you planted. Read more now to learn everything you need to know about common Helianthus insect pests and how to deal with them.
Snapdragon is the perfect addition to cutting gardens. Spiky heads loaded with blossoms add height and structure to flower beds and floral arrangements. Did you know it blooms from the bottom up, for long vase life? Learn all about this old-time favorite and its modern color palette in this guide. Read more now.
A garden full of bachelor’s buttons is a dazzling sight, but not if those bold blossom heads are falling over. Why does this happen? And are you doomed to deal with droopy blossoms or can something be done to make your flowers stand proud? Learn why your cornflowers are falling over and how you can fix the problem.
Bee balm (aka Monarda) is one of the most popular plants in North American gardens, but it’s also one of the most likely to get out of control. Is it worth it? With careful placement, the right strategy and tools, and a bit of time, controlling bee balm is easy and worth the effort! Read more to learn our top tips.
If it’s well into summer and your bee balm plants still aren’t displaying their signature colorful fountainhead flowers, check out this guide to pinpoint whether the problem is your climate, soil fertility, irrigation, crowding, pests, or disease issues. Then, get them blooming in no time with these tips. Read more.
You may think of dandelions as invasive weeds, but did you know that the greens, flowers, and roots are edible? Delicious and nutritious, leaves can be added to salads, flowers made into a tea, and the roots can be used as a coffee substitute. Learn how to cultivate and harvest dandelions in this guide. Read more now.
Pansies love cool weather, but these fall-planted flowers still need winter care to bloom their best in spring. Learn how to help pansies form strong roots and survive the snow and frost with mulch, water, and TLC. Follow our tips for winterizing pansies for a carpet of colorful blooms. Read more now.
Did you know that in mild climates calendula can thrive in the garden all winter long and may even survive a light frost? The spectacular orange and yellow flowers can bring warmth and light to the winter garden, even on the chilliest of days. Learn how to keep calendula plants blooming well into the winter months.
Winter pansies are a delightful sign of spring, even in deep winter. As long as there are a few warm days, your pansies will perk up and do their stuff. They’re an excellent addition to your garden and containers, and ask for little more than some water and tender deadheading. Get our top tips for growing winter pansies.
Pot marigold, also known as calendula, is an annual herb that blooms with spectacular yellow, orange, and gold flowers. With a history of medicinal use, the edible flowers can be made into a variety of herbal remedies, used in cooking, or brewed in a soothing tea. Learn how to plant and grow calendula in this guide.
Sunflowers that don’t produce pollen were bred for pro florists and are now available to home gardeners. Here’s a fresh-picked roundup of popular pollenless varieties with unique blooms, available in a rainbow of colors and sizes. Some are suited for containers too. Ready to grow your own? Read more on Gardener’s Path.
For huge, double-petalled blooms on shorter plants, sweet, sunny ‘Teddy Bear’ sunflowers are a colorful addition to the summer garden. This easy-to-grow dwarf cultivar adds texture to borders and beds, and is a cutting garden favorite. Find top tips for growing ‘Teddy Bear’ sunflowers in your landscape. Read more now.
Are wildlife pests trying to make a meal from your sunflowers? Try these kind and effective tricks to protect sunflower blooms from squirrels and birds. Nets (for the flowers!) and scary Mylar are two of the best ways to preserve your flowers for yourself, and seeds for the songbird feeder. Read more now.
Dame’s rocket has naturalized in almost every state. This pretty phlox-like flower that grows along highways and in meadows is considered invasive. However, its leaves and seeds have culinary and medicinal applications. Should you grow it in your yard? Learn how to plant, grow, and control dame’s rocket. Read more now.
You can save money and spread even more joy when you save your bachelor’s button seeds to grow again next year. Follow a few simple steps and you’ll have so many cornflower seeds to plant and share. Start planning when the cheerful blooms appear, follow up with the perfect storage spot, and you’ll be set next spring.
Looking to grow chives from seed? You’re in luck! They’re easy to propagate and before you know it, you’ll be cooking with your own homegrown herbs. This article will give you everything you need to know, from seed saving tips to advice for getting seedlings started, whether you’re growing them indoors or out.
Many gardeners would agree that you can never have too much bee balm, a classic mid-border garden favorite. Luckily, it’s easy to propagate this long-blooming flowering herb via division, seeds, or cuttings. With proper care, you’ll have tons to sprinkle throughout the garden beds or give away to friends and family.
Borage is an easy to grow annual herb with tasty leaves long prized by chefs and herbalists. Its edible, star-shaped blossoms are beloved by bees and other beneficial insects and pollinators. This versatile herb can also be used as a cover crop. Learn how to plant and grow borage now in your landscape. Read more now.
Borage is an easy to grow herb with tasty leaves and pretty, edible blossoms that attract a variety of pollinators. It can also be used as a cover crop in the garden. It’s easy to start from seed, if you keep a few points in mind. Learn how and when to plant borage seeds to enjoy this herb in your landscape.
Bachelor’s button is a wildflower that has naturalized throughout the United States. From classic blue to shades of pink, purple, and white, it’s an invasive grower that likes space to roam. Learn about this country classic and see if it’s right for your backyard landscape. Read more now.
Ready to plant marigolds from seed for bright summer blooms? Planting marigolds from seed is easy, but you’ll want to know when you should start these annual flower seeds indoors – and when you can sow the seeds right into your garden soil. Learn more about how and when to plant marigolds from seed. Read more now.
Are you growing sunflowers and wondering when and how you should harvest them to enjoy your own fresh sunflower seeds? In this guide, you’ll learn all the top tips on when and how to harvest delicious, nutritious, homegrown sunflower seeds. Plus, we include instructions for roasting and recipe ideas. Read more now.
Is there anything more cheerful than the sight of a sunflower nodding in the gentle breeze? Not only are sunflowers beautiful, but they’re also edible. And if you think seeds are just for snacking, think again. Discover everything you need to know to grow sunflowers in your garden with this growing guide. Read more now.
Violets come in an array of cultivars, colors, and sizes, and they’re a wonderful flower to welcome the spring. If you want a convenient and decorative option but don’t have room in your flower bed, why not try growing them in containers? Planting in pots saves space and can extend the growing season. Read more now.
Carnations, sweet williams, and pinks are long-lasting in the garden and cut arrangements. With a spicy fragrance, Dianthus flowers sport attractive shades of pink, red, white, and purple that bloom all summer long. A stand-out in borders, rockeries, and window boxes, get all the growing details now on Gardener’s Path.
What better way is there to add color to the veggie garden or jazz up a boring salad than with beautiful nasturtiums? Edible, elegant, and easy to grow, this is the ideal companion plant to brighten up your backyard, with many striking varieties to choose from. Check out our handy roundup of top picks now!
If you are looking for an easy to grow flower with vibrant colors to bring cheer to your garden, try violets. Violas, violets, and pansies are available all sorts of shapes, sizes, colors, and even scents. Learn about the different types and discover 39 of the best violet varieties to add to your garden. Read more now.
Learn how to grow crocus, the vivid-hued, tulip-like flower that offers Northerners the first taste of spring. Find out more now with our growing guide.
Chives are wonderful for adding a light oniony flavor to any number of savory dishes, including soups, salads, and baked potatoes. It’s a cinch to grow your own, especially in pots and containers that are easy to access from the kitchen, whether that’s on the back porch or on a sunny windowsill indoors. Read more now.
Lavender is a versatile and beautiful herb that’s used extensively in the garden, in the kitchen, and for its fragrant dried flowers. Beloved by gardeners, propagation by seed is slow and unreliable – but stem cuttings give great results. Here’s all the info you need on how to grow lavender from cuttings.
Nasturtiums’ bright blooms and rounded leaves bring cheer to the summer garden. However, these edible annuals don’t do well in the winter chill. In order for your plants to survive the colder months, you’ll need to give them some extra care and protection. Get our top tips on how to care for nasturtiums during winter.
Uniquely beautiful, edible, and medicinal, bee balm makes a spectacular addition to any perennial garden. Just ask the butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds when they come flocking to your garden en masse. Learn how to grow, harvest, and use this herbaceous perennial now.
Looking for an intriguing edible plant with spectacular flowers that will astound the neighbors? Consider growing caper bush, a Mediterranean native whose preserved fruit makes a delicious addition to many dishes. Learn more about growing this tough beauty — and preserving the fruit — now on Gardener’s Path.
The bold marigold has gracefully taken a step back as the market for new and exotic flowers expands at a wild rate. That’s a shame. This tough, colorful, and pest-resistant flower readily produces nonstop blooms, and it brings with it a host of benefits for your garden. Think twice before you pass up these darlings the next time you’re stocking up for the season. Our closer look at the marigold that will leave you ready and waiting to plant your own – read more now on Gardener’s Path.
To extend the flowering season of your garden, look no further than the chrysanthemum. With a beautiful variety of flower shapes and colors, this autumn mainstay shines brightly when all the other flowers have packed it in for the year. Join us now for a closer look at this easy-to-grow perennial!
The daylily is one of America’s favorite perennials, and with good reason. It is an easy-to-grow plant with extended periods of flowering, and is susceptible to few ailments. Practically required in your perennial borders, we share all the tips you’ll need. Read more about this lovely perennial now on Gardener’s Path.
With their bright green foliage, juicy colors, and tumbling habit, ivy geraniums are an essential plant for any area that needs trailers – containers, hanging baskets, window boxes – and can even be used as ground cover. Join us for a detailed look at the best care and cultivation practices for this pretty pelargonium.
Why not have a second look at wax begonia? Learn how this easy-care, old-fashioned annual with shiny leaves contributes color and charm to the most modern landscape. Read more now on Gardener’s Path.
Mums, aster, and heather are flowering staples in your late fall or early spring garden, but winter pansies provide brilliant color straight on through the cooler seasons. They’re not even shy about popping up from under the snow and ice during warm spells in the winter months. Gardener’s Path has compiled this informative guide for you to read about about pansies and their care– read on to learn more!
Although most folks dismiss it as a weed, dandelions are some of the tastiest and nutritious herbs growing wild. Super simple to collect and use, this common legume has many medicinal uses and has been used historically to cure and treat all sorts of ailments. Find out more now!