BY MARY LOU MAYFIELD

If eating flowers presents visions of the pansy hors d’oeuvres on the Iowa State Extension calendar, we eat much more than that! After all, there’s a reason why we call it “cauliflower!” The mild flavor of cauliflower makes is very versatile, even as a gluten-free substitute for wheat flour. It also subs for other high carbohydrate grains like rice, and even potatoes.

https://capemay.njaes.rutgers.edu/2020/03/01/cauliflower-power/

https://blogs.extension.iastate.edu/answerline/2017/04/20/cauliflower-crust-pizza/

The tops of broccoli are also flower buds. It is more nutritious than cauliflower due to the chlorophyll that gives it the bright green color.

https://sampson.ces.ncsu.edu/2017/11/the-importance-of-eating-broccoli/

https://www.eatgathergo.org/recipe/cauliflower-salad/ (with steamed broccoli)

When I prepare broccoli, I cut off the florets, peel the stem and cut it into small pieces. I bring them to boil and put the florets on top, then boil for 10 minutes, which tenderizes the stems and steams the florets. They come out bright green and tender-crisp.

Other flowers, like the artichoke bud, can be versatile.

https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/10_ways_to_cook_an_artichoke

Although most lilies are toxic, daylily flowers are edible for humans (and safe for dogs, but not cats).

https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/know-how-know-more/2015-07-15-another-reason-love-daylilies (Recipe for fried daylily buds)

https://extension.umn.edu/flowers/edible-flowers

https://www.johnson.k-state.edu/docs/lawn-and-garden/in-house-publications/perennials/Edible%20Flowers.pdf (with recipes)

TO SUM IT UP:

https://store.extension.iastate.edu/product/Edible-Flowers

Be careful which flowers you eat, and how you prepare them!

https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/1995/7-21-1995/eatflow.html

If you are interested in trying those pansy hors d’oeuvres, here’s a recipe:

https://ubloom.com/blog/2020/09/21/pansy-goat-cheese-chive-hors-doeuvre/