Using edible flowers in baking, cocktails and cooking is one of my favourite things to do. It can elevate something quite simple, to something simply beautiful. So I thought I’d put a list together of some of my favourite edible flowers found in the UK.
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What English Flowers Are Edible?
How many English flowers are edible? To be honest — I don’t know! But I can certainly name a good list; with enough variety of blooms that I use in salads or baking.
50 Edible Flowers Found In The UK
Here is a list of edible flowers that you can find in UK gardens or hedgerows. I’ve used all of these in various ways over the years.
Some are perfect sprinkled in and over salads — Chive, Pea and Nasturtium flowers. Other’s can be used to decorate biscuits and cakes.
They all give a different flavour or taste. Some are sweet and fruity. Others peppery and sharp.
- Alliums (Chives, leeks and garlic/wild garlic blossoms)
- Angelica (Wild Celery)
- Anise Hyssop
- Bee balm (Bergamot)
- Blackcurrant blossoms
- Borage
- Calendula or Marigold
- Chamomile
- Chrysanthemum
- Clary Sage
- Clover
- Cornflower
- Daisy
- Dandelion
- Dianthus (Pinks)
- Double Daisies (Bellis Daisy)
- Elderflower
- Evening Primrose
- Flowering Reccurrant
- Flowering Whitecurrant
- Fuchsia
- Geraniums
- Goldenrod
- Hibiscus
- Hollyhock
- Honeysuckle
- Jasmine
- Lavender
- Lemon balm
- Lilac
- Marshmallow
- Meadowsweet
- Mint
- Nasturtium
- Pansy
- Pea Flowers
- Primrose
- Red Clover
- Rocket flowers
- Sage
- Snapdragon
- Squash blossoms
- Sunflower
- Sweet Violet
- Sweet Woodruff
- Thyme
- Viola
- Rose petals
- White Clover
- Yarrow
My Favourite Edible Flowers
My favourite edible flowers — by far — are Flowering Currant blooms (pictured above).
The shrubs are ornamental — so the berries (although not toxic) don’t taste particularly good. But the flowers taste absolutely delicious!!
Imagine the most intensely currant flavour (more so even than Ribena!) and this is how they taste.
They work brilliantly on biscuits. I have shared my recipe for shortbread biscuits with edible flowers here on the Listed Home before.
And they give gin and tonic the sweetest, most delicious edge too. Almost like an aroma — rather than a taste.
It’s quite simply delicious.
And looks pretty too!
Caro Davies is a former art-director turned writer and content-creator, and editor behind UK lifestyle blog The Listed Home. She writes about home-related topics, from interiors and DIY to food and craft. The Listed Home has been featured in various publications, including Ideal Home, Grazia, and Homes & Antiques magazines.
