My wife likes to grow pretty flowers in the front yard and I have a tendency to think of that as a waste of time. So we are working out a compromise and she is planting more flowers that are edible. It is amazing the number of flowers that look good in your yard and are edible. Here is a link to a list of common edible flowers, both wild and domestic.
She recently planted some Chrysanthemums, which are growing quite large and are edible. Chrysanthemum greens have a slightly tangy taste and can be eaten raw or cooked. The leaves are steamed or boiled and used as greens, in Chinese cuisine. Young leaves and stems are used in oriental stir-fries. The flower petals can be eaten and are often blanched and spread on salads. Always remove the flower base as they have a bitter taste.
When you cook Chrysanthemum greens, cook them very lightly. If overcooked they will become bitter. However, it is a delicious green, full of nutrition and particularly rich in potassium and antioxidants. Chrysanthemum flowers are boiled to make a sweet drink known as chrysanthemum tea in some parts of Asia. Chrysanthemum flowers have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. It is claimed that Chrysanthemums help increase blood flow and have anti-histamine, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. There are many plants similar to this that you can grow in your yard, and your neighbors will not know that you have an edible yard. This is perfect for people who are trying to blend in and become grey men.
Rules about eating edible flowers
- Never use pesticides or other chemicals on any part of any plant that you plan to eat.
- Never harvest flowers growing by the roadside, they may be contaminated by exhaust fumes and any spraying done by government agencies.
- Be sure you have identified the flower correct and eat only the edible flowers and the edible parts of those flowers.
Howard
