Guide to Vegetables that Flower
Many vegetables not only provide edible greens or roots but also bloom beautiful flowers along the way. These flowers can enhance your garden’s beauty and attract beneficial pollinators, like bees and butterflies. Additionally, some vegetable flowers are edible or even contribute to the flavor profile of the plant. Here’s a guide to vegetables that flower and tips for growing them.
1. Broccoli (Brassica oleracea)
Flower Type: Small, yellow flowers
Edible Flowers: Yes, the flowers are edible and have a mild, slightly bitter flavor.
Growing Tips: Broccoli is grown for its heads of florets, but if not harvested in time, it will flower. Allowing the broccoli to flower can attract pollinators, but it often signals that the plant is about to bolt (flowering instead of forming a large head). If you like, you can harvest the young broccoli flowers before they fully open.
2. Squash (Cucurbita spp.)
Flower Type: Large, vibrant yellow or orange flowers
Edible Flowers: Yes, squash flowers (often called zucchini blossoms) are edible and are a delicacy in many cuisines.
Growing Tips: Squash flowers bloom in the summer and are both decorative and delicious. You can use the male flowers (which don't produce fruit) in cooking, stuff them, or add them to salads. Female flowers are needed for fruit production, so be careful not to pick all the flowers.
3. Cucumber (Cucumis sativus)
Flower Type: Small, yellow flowers
Edible Flowers: Yes, cucumber flowers are edible, though they are not commonly eaten. They have a mild cucumber flavor.
Growing Tips: Cucumbers produce a lot of flowers, but only the female flowers will turn into fruit. You can eat the male flowers, though they tend to be less showy. If you're growing cucumbers for fruit, ensure the plants are getting enough water and nutrients.
4. Peas (Pisum sativum)
Flower Type: White, purple, or pink flowers
Edible Flowers: Yes, pea flowers are edible and have a sweet, pea-like flavor.
Growing Tips: Pea plants produce delicate flowers before the peas themselves form. These flowers can be eaten fresh, used in salads, or garnished on dishes. The plants also attract pollinators and help with pollination, which leads to better yields of peas.
5. Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum)
Flower Type: Small, yellow, star-shaped flowers
Edible Flowers: Yes, while not typically eaten in their entirety, the tomato flower can be used as a decorative garnish.
Growing Tips: Tomato plants flower early in the growing season, and successful pollination of these flowers is essential for fruit development. Tomatoes are self-pollinating, but bees and wind can help improve pollination and fruit set.
6. Eggplant (Solanum melongena)
Flower Type: Small, purple, star-shaped flowers
Edible Flowers: Yes, eggplant flowers are edible and have a slightly bitter taste, but they’re not commonly eaten.
Growing Tips: Eggplants produce beautiful purple flowers, which will turn into the fruit. Ensure the plants receive enough warmth and sunlight for healthy flowering and fruit production. The flowers may be eaten, but it’s essential to leave some for pollination.
7. Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus)
Flower Type: Large, hibiscus-like flowers (often yellow with a red center)
Edible Flowers: Yes, okra flowers are edible, and they have a mild, pleasant flavor.
Growing Tips: Okra plants produce striking flowers before the pods form. These flowers are delicate and short-lived, but they can be used in cooking. Okra requires warm weather and plenty of sunlight, making it ideal for summer gardens.
8. Radish (Raphanus sativus)
Flower Type: Small, colorful flowers (often pink, purple, or white)
Edible Flowers: Yes, radish flowers are edible and have a spicy, peppery flavor.
Growing Tips: Radishes are typically grown for their roots, but if left too long, they will bolt and flower. These flowers are attractive to pollinators, and although not commonly used in cooking, they can be added to salads or used as garnishes.
9. Arugula (Eruca vesicaria)
Flower Type: Small, white or yellow flowers
Edible Flowers: Yes, arugula flowers are edible and have a mild, peppery flavor.
Growing Tips: Arugula is often grown for its leaves, but if the plant goes to seed, it will bolt and produce small flowers. These flowers are not only edible but also attract beneficial insects. Arugula flowers can add a peppery note to salads.
10. Chard (Beta vulgaris)
Flower Type: Small, greenish-yellow flowers
Edible Flowers: Yes, chard flowers are edible, though they’re not typically used in cooking.
Growing Tips: While you’ll typically harvest chard for its colorful leaves, it will eventually flower if left in the ground for too long. The flowers are often not as flavorful as other edible flowers but can be used for their mild flavor and to attract pollinators.
11. Mustard (Brassica juncea)
Flower Type: Small, yellow flowers
Edible Flowers: Yes, mustard flowers are edible and have a mustardy, spicy flavor.
Growing Tips: Mustard plants will flower if left to bolt. While you’re most likely growing mustard for its leaves or seeds, the flowers can be used in salads, garnishes, or as a topping for sandwiches.
12. Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
Flower Type: Small, yellow umbel-shaped flowers
Edible Flowers: Yes, fennel flowers are edible and have a mild, licorice-like flavor.
Growing Tips: Fennel is often grown for its feathery foliage and bulbous base, but it will also produce aromatic flowers that attract beneficial insects. The flowers, along with the fronds, can be used to flavor salads, fish dishes, or desserts.
13. Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea)
Flower Type: Small, yellow flowers
Edible Flowers: Yes, cauliflower flowers are edible, but most people harvest it for its "curd" (the head) before it flowers.
Growing Tips: Cauliflower is typically grown for its edible curd, but if left to mature, the plant will bolt and flower. The flowers are less commonly eaten, but you can use them in a pinch, just like broccoli flowers.
14. Kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes)
Flower Type: Small, yellow flowers
Edible Flowers: Yes, kohlrabi flowers are edible.
Growing Tips: Kohlrabi is typically grown for its edible stem, but if left too long, it will flower. The flowers are mild in flavor, and the plant will attract beneficial pollinators.
Vegetable flowers not only add visual interest to your garden but also serve as a valuable source of food for pollinators. Whether you eat them directly or simply enjoy their beauty, flowering vegetables offer a unique way to enhance your gardening experience. From the bold blooms of squash to the delicate pea flowers, there’s a variety of vegetable flowers to suit every garden and palate.
