A Partial List of Inedible or Poisonous Flowers
Azalea Azalea spp. (Rhododendron spp.)
Boxwood Buxus spp.
Burning Bush Euonymus spp.
Caladium Caladium spp.
Clematis Clematis spp.
Daffodil Narcissus spp.
Delphinium (Larkspur) Delphinium spp.
Elephant Ears Colocasia antiquorum
Four O'Clock Mirabilis jalapa
Foxglove Digitalis purpurea
Hyacinth Hyacinthus orientalis
Hydrangea Hydrangea spp.
Iris Iris spp.
Ivy (English Ivy) Hedera helix
Jack-in-the-Pulpit Arisaemia triphyllum
Lantana Lantana camara
Lily of the Valley Convallaria majalis
Lobelia Lobelia spp.
Morning Glory Ipomoea violacea
Mountain Laurel Kalmia latifolia
Periwinkle Vinca spp.
Privet Ligustrum spp.
Rhododendron Rhododendron spp.
Sweet Pea Lathyrus spp.
Wisteria Wisteria spp.
Source: "Edible Flowers: From Garden to Palate" by Cathy Wilkinson Barash
My buddy, Kathleen Gips at The Village Herb Shop asked about petunias. I remember in our garden when I was growing up, the rabbits loved our petunias. I thought they might be an edible flower and the link I gave you for inedible flowers has an edibles list and petunia is on it. I wanted to dig a bit deeper. When I did talks on edible flowers, I found a photocopy of a February 1990 article in Organic Gardening magazine by Rosalind Creasy. She is one of my go to authors about edible flowers. I'm going to add these following flowers to my list because she says to avoid them because no reliable documentation for their safety has been found:
Bachelor's Buttons Centaurus cyanus
Impatiens Impatiens spp.
Mullein Verbascum spp.
Petunias Petunias spp.
Primrose Primula spp.
Snapdragons Antirrhinum spp.
I greatly respect Rosalind Creasy and think that it is better to lean on the side of avoidance than to have a bad reaction because you aren't sure and decide to experiment!
I have given you a lot of the more common inedible and poisonous plants in this list. This is an additional list from homecooking at about.com for non-edible poisonous flowers. Oh, look, black locust is still on the list! Now you know that black locust may have some toxic parts, but the flowers are edible. So please do your own research. I will be adding your additionals as necessary.
My buddy, Kathleen Gips at The Village Herb Shop asked about petunias. I remember in our garden when I was growing up, the rabbits loved our petunias. I thought they might be an edible flower and the link I gave you for inedible flowers has an edibles list and petunia is on it. I wanted to dig a bit deeper. When I did talks on edible flowers, I found a photocopy of a February 1990 article in Organic Gardening magazine by Rosalind Creasy. She is one of my go to authors about edible flowers. I'm going to add these following flowers to my list because she says to avoid them because no reliable documentation for their safety has been found:
Bachelor's Buttons Centaurus cyanus
Impatiens Impatiens spp.
Mullein Verbascum spp.
Petunias Petunias spp.
Primrose Primula spp.
Snapdragons Antirrhinum spp.
I greatly respect Rosalind Creasy and think that it is better to lean on the side of avoidance than to have a bad reaction because you aren't sure and decide to experiment!
I have given you a lot of the more common inedible and poisonous plants in this list. This is an additional list from homecooking at about.com for non-edible poisonous flowers. Oh, look, black locust is still on the list! Now you know that black locust may have some toxic parts, but the flowers are edible. So please do your own research. I will be adding your additionals as necessary.
© 2013 Nancy Heraud
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