Borage – Wonderful in salads or in herb rubs for roast meats.
Calendula (Pot or Garden Marigolds) – This flower has an aromatic and slightly bitter taste. When dried it can be added to soups.
Monarda (Bee balm) – Monarda petals taste similar to oregano. They can be used in salads, herb butters, or sprinkled over steamed vegetables.
Daylilies – Daylilies have a sweet lettuce flavor. A good variety is the lemon lily which has a strong citrus scent. Dried daylily buds, called golden needles, are sold in many Asian markets. Soak in hot water for 15 minutes and add to Chinese dishes like hot-and-sour soup.
Nasturtiums – Nasturtiums come in a wide variety of colors and are very easy to grow in your garden. They have a slightly peppery taste. Combine different colored petals with butter to create a very vibrant dish. For a unique hors d’oeuvre, pipe an herb butter or pate onto the center of nasturtium petals.
Squash Blossoms – These flowers have a similar taste to the squash. All varieties of squash blossoms are edible, but zucchini is the most commonly used. Some varieties of winter squash have bitter tasting blossoms.
