Edible Flowers

This group covers multi-tasking plants that have beautiful flowers that attract pollinators to the vegetable garden, some plants even deter pests and the flowers are edible to boot. 

No garden should be with out Artichokes, incredible architectural plants, beautiful flowers and the buds are edible.  Plant in a full sun spot in well drained soils that are fertile and you can have a crop the first year.  They will be available in May in 11cm pots.   Closely related to Artichokes (Cynara scolymus) are Cardoons (Cynara cardunculus) with silver coated foliage, gorgeous flowers and the early tender spring foliage can be eaten. 

For the sunny spot with flowers that are edible the essential are Marigolds and the form we offer are the fine leaf Tagetes types.  These make great edger's for containers and vegetable gardens as their foliage scent deters many pests.  The flowers range from bright yellow to bi-colour brick red on gold. See them in 9cm pots in May.

Nasturtiums have both edible foliage and flowers and are classics in any garden, perfect for draping over container edges or grown in the ground.  To  keep aphids off do not stress your plants, keep them in moist but well drained soils, sun to semi-shade with good soil fertility.  Find them in 9cm pots in May.

If you want to add true blue to the garden grow Borage or Anchusa.  Borage (Borago) has always been a traditional part of the vegetable garden as their foliage not only is edible it also retains high nutrient qualities and are great compost activators.  The beautiful blue flowers attract a high number of pollinators and are edible.   Anchusa with their luxuriant Mediterranean blue flowers require a full sun, well drained site and their flowers are beautiful to garnish any dish.

For the slightly shady location in the garden grow Calendula with their glowing orange and yellow flowers that are very popular in Indian cooking. They can tolerate a bit of frost and prefer cooler temperatures so early spring and late summer plantings are ideal.  Look for them in 11cm pots.

Viola are the classic cottage garden plant with Johnny Jump Ups finding their way into every nook and cranny.  The flowers add a touch of sweetness to a salad and if you grow our perennial Viola odorata (Sweet Violets) the flowers are often candied for decorating cakes.  These plants prefer semi-shade and are very easy to grow. All are available early in the spring in 9cm pots.

Other plants which have edible flowers that we offer in our perennial selections are Monarda, Daylilies (Hemerocallis) and Primroses (Primula elatior and veris).