20 Edible Flowers You Can Grow In Your Garden

The No. 1 rule of edible flowers is knowing how to identify them. Pick edible flowers on a dry, sunny day. Most flowers should be picked when they have fully bloomed and are not yet starting to wilt. Rinse the flowers quickly under cold water or swirl them in a large bowl of cold water to remove dirt and tiny insects. Then, gently shake off the water but not so vigorously that you remove the pollen, which often has a lot of flavor. If you plan to dry your flowers, place them on paper towels or clean tea towels in a single layer. Let them dry in a warm, well-ventilated place, turning them over once or twice a day. Depending on the thickness and moisture content of the flowers, this can take several days. You can also dry flowers in a dehydrator. Follow the gadget instructions, and, just like with air-drying, make sure not to overlap them. Here are 20 edible flowers to grow in your garden.

USDA Growing Zones: 9 to 11 Color Varieties: Pink, red, white, bicolorSun Exposure: Full, partialSoil Needs: Average, moist, well-drained

USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 9Color Varieties: Red, purple, pinkSun Exposure: Full, partialSoil Needs: Rich, moist, well-drained

USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 11 (annual)Color Varieties: BlueSun Exposure: Full, partialSoil Needs: Average, dry to medium moisture, well-drained

USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 11 (annual)Color Varieties: Yellow, orangeSun Exposure: Full, partialSoil Needs: Average, well-drained

USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 8Color Varieties: White and yellowSun Exposure: FullSoil Needs: Average, dry to medium moisture, well-drained

USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8Color Varieties: Pink, purple, red, whiteSun Exposure: FullSoil Needs: Sandy, loamy, moist, well-drained

USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9Color Varieties: YellowSun Exposure: FullSoil Needs: Average, well-drained

USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9Color Varieties: Orange, yellow, red, pink, purple, melonSun Exposure: Full, partialSoil Needs: Average, medium moisture, well-drained

USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8Color Varieties: WhiteSun Exposure: Full, partialSoil Needs: Humusy, moist, well-drained

USDA Growing Zones: 10 to 11Color Varieties: Pink, whiteSun Exposure: Full, partialSoil Needs: Rich, medium moisture, well-drained

USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9Color Varieties: RedSun Exposure: Full, partialSoil Needs: Rich, moist, well-drained

USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8Color Varieties: PurpleSun Exposure: FullSoil Needs: Average, dry to medium moisture, well-drained

USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 7Color Varieties: Shades of purple, pink, whiteSun Exposure: FullSoil Needs: Loamy, well-drained

USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 11 (annual)Color Varieties: Orange, yellow, redSun Exposure: Full, partialSoil Needs: Loamy, moist, well-drained

USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 7Color Varieties: White, pink, redSun Exposure: FullSoil Needs: Loamy, well-drained

USDA Growing Zones: 9 to 11 Color Varieties: Red, orange, pink, yellow, creamSun Exposure: FullSoil Needs: Average, medium moisture, well-drained

USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8Color Varieties: Full, partialSun Exposure: PurpleSoil Needs: Average, dry to medium moisture, well-drained

USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9Color Varieties: Pink, red, white, lavender, yellowSun Exposure: Full, partialSoil Needs: Rich, well-drained

USDA Growing Zones: Varies by speciesColor Varieties: Varies by speciesSun Exposure: Varies by speciesSoil Needs: Varies by species

USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8Color Varieties: Purple, pink, whiteSun Exposure: Full, partialSoil Needs: Rich, moist, well-drained