Edible flowers are a nice addition to the Herb and Vegetable garden as they have multiple benefits including for your health on top of looking good also.
They attract beneficial predators to your garden like Lacewings, Ladybugs etc and help deter pests like White fly and Aphids.
The petals are usually the main part to eat although you can eat most of some plants.
People who allergic to pollen might have problems and good advise it to ask your doctor about before eating flowers.
Do your research as there are so many ways to use flowers with cooking, making oils, sprays etc.
Here are some pics I took of my flowers and a bit of info.
Marigold
Flowers like Marigold help controlling nematodes (those tiny, eel-like worms that attack the roots of plants).
Apparently, a substance is exuded from the little plants that deters these almost invisible crop-destroyers. Marigold also has a unique smell that helps keep pests like Aphids away.
The petals on the flowers can be used to garnish salads, rice, potatoes, fish, chicken or whatever you like really.
Also they are good for making tea with.
Marigold balm makes a soothing rub for tired, aching feet. Place a few handful's of petals into a bowl, covering them with 1 cup of heated (Around 50°C or 120 °F) sunflower oil. Let the mixture soak for about 4 hours, then strain the petals through a coarse cloth and store the oil in a jar.
The flowers are nutritious! They contain carotene, which can be converted in humans to vitamin A. You can also use dry crumbled leaves instead of Saffron.
Marigold petals have a citrus taste.
Nasturtium
This plant has many benefits and you can eat most of the plant in a variety of ways.
They have a spicy peppery taste depending on how much sun they get.
Scientific research has found the plant has a natural antibiotic action that is fast-working in the body. It is interesting to note that the antibiotic agent, tromalyt, has been found in the urine within one hour of digesting the herb. Noteworthy, too, is that this antibiotic does not interfere with intestinal flora, and it has been found to be effective against some microorganisms that have built up resistance to common antibiotic drugs.
The plant has a high content of vitamin C, iron and other minerals, and the powerful antibiotic, antimicrobial, antioxidant and general tonic actions.
Nasturtiums also deter aphids, white fly and root pests; and the essence secreted into the soil is also absorbed by other plants, helping them to resist attack by pests and disease. Plant nasturtiums between around your fruit and veges.
For cooking you can use the flower buds instead of capers, Flowers dried or fresh on salads and multiple dishes, You can also eat the seeds which are spicy.
There is so much you can do with this plant and the best way is check out the net for different uses.
Heartsease (Viola tricolor)
Is a cool looking flower and they are edible.
Keep picking these mini pansy flowers to decorate salads and puddings for four or five months at a stretch and it will keep flowering. It will also lightly self-sow. A very hardy plant, for sowing, growing and in winter.
Heartsease is one of many plant species containing cyclotides. These small peptides have proven to be useful in drug development due to their size and structure giving rise to high stability. Many cyclotides, found in Viola tricolor are cytotoxic. This feature means that it could be used to treat cancers.
