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Search Results for ' Edible flowers'

PAL Questions: 1 - Garden Tools: 3

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Keywords: Edible flowers, Alstroemeria, Poisonous plants

PAL Question:

I am planning to decorate my wedding cake with Alstroemeria. Are these flowers safe to use? The flowers won't be eaten, but will be in contact with the icing.

View Answer:

According to this University of California Davis Plant Sciences page on toxic plants, Alstroemeria is classified as possessing minor toxicity, meaning that ingesting the plant can cause gastrointestinal problems. Parts of the plant (not necessarily the blossoms) can also cause dermatitis if handled. See the following information on Alstroemeria from North Carolina State University Extension.

Rather than take any chances, I recommend restricting your decoration choices to edible flowers. A mixture of calendula, lavender, and violet blossoms, for example, might be an attractive option. North Carolina State University Extension also has an article on edible flowers.

Iowa State University Extension has useful guidelines on selecting edible flowers.

Season All Season
Date 2007-07-18
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Keywords: Edible flowers

Garden Tool: Web resources for edible flowers:

Season: All Season
Date: 2007-03-20
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Keywords: Edible flowers

Garden Tool: Condensed rules for eating flowers:

  • Only eat flowers that are positively identified to be edible.
  • Not all flowers are edible, even some served as a garnish in restaurants.
  • Do not eat flowers that may have been sprayed with pesticides, such as from a florist, nursery, or from the side of a road.
  • Eat only petals, not pistils and stamens.
  • If you suffer from asthma or allergies be cautious when eating flowers.

Season: All Season
Date: 2007-03-20
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Keywords: Cooking, Edible flowers

Garden Tool: What could be more satisfying than creating a meal with home-grown edible flowers? Author Cathy Wilkinson Barash, in her book Edible Flowers for Garden to Palate (Fulcrum, 1995)[available used online & at Elisabeth C. Miller Library] tempts the reader with sweet and savory recipes that feature fresh flowers. Barash goes far beyond a mere sprinkling of nasturtiums in a summer salad to include recipes for lilac chicken, bee balm ice cream and dandelion eggs. For each flower featured the descriptions include botanical, historical and growing information plus color photos of the plant and many of the recipes. The last chapter is perhaps most important because it gives the "ten rules of edible flowers" explaining precautions that must be taken before a person starts eating flowers.

Season: All Season
Date: 2007-04-03
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October 13 2009 09:13:54