During Autumn, visit a pumpkin patch and you can find pumpkins with funnel-shaped blossoms. They can vary between being orange and yellow colored. What some people don’t always realize is that the pumpkin flower is edible. It can be used as part of a recipe, plating decoration, or home décor.
It is one flower that is quite versatile in functionality, as there aren’t many flowers that are both edible and decorative.
In this article, we discuss the pumpkin flower and what it has to offer:
* What is pumpkin flower?
* Other edible flowers
* Going from the vase to the plate
What is Pumpkin Flower
The pumpkin flower is a part of the pumpkin that comes in to blossom when the pumpkin is ready. The pumpkin flower, while aesthetically beautiful, also has a few benefits that one may not be aware of. For example, there has been a decrease in the bee population, however, thanks to the pumpkin flower and its sweet fragrance, it has been helping the bees be able to pollinate and therefore, helping the population grow.
The bright colors of the pumpkin flower are also often associated with providing health benefits. When eaten or included in a dish, the pumpkin flower is high in vitamin B9 and is known to prevent the common cold. It is also known to be associated with assisting with infertility, improving vision, and strengthening bones.
When you walk through a pumpkin patch, pick up a flower and take a nibble, who knows if the results be as quick as many health professionals claim, but do not be fooled, the pumpkin isn’t the only gourd that blossoms edible flowers. There are many other vegetables and flowers that actually bloom edible flowers.
Other Edible Flowers
While the pumpkin flower is one edible flower, there are other flowers that are edible, and for some, they may come as a surprise.
Here are edible flowers that are both pretty in a vase but also on a plate. Who knows, that next Valentine’s Day floral bouquet might be a multifunctional bouquet. Pretty in a vase and pretty on a plate.
Carnations This versatile flower can be used as cake decoration, steeped in wine, and then used as a dessert. Not only are they great in a vase, but they can be used for cooking or desserts, one caution is if you are giving one that has been manually altered in color, which could affect the taste. Carnations that are naturally, red, white, or pink are the ones you can eat.
Hibiscus – A popular flavor for tea and beer. The hibiscus is like a cranberry with a hint of citrus. The petals can be used in salads or as a garnish. For many cultures, the hibiscus is known for being medicinal and offering many health benefits.
Lilac – While the lilac is a popular scent in women’s perfume, the lilac petals can be incorporated into a salad. The lilac can best be described as a flavor similar to a lemon.
Dandelion – Walking through a pasture, you can find dandelions scattered throughout. These bright yellow edible flowers are a great source of antioxidants, while their roots are often steeped to make tea. The flower can be cooked, or tossed into a salad.
Lavender – This potent flower is commonly used for its calming and relaxing benefits; however, what some may not know is that the lavender is also used in both savory and sweet recopies. Lavender can be found as a syrup or liqueur or you can find it dried and used as a tea or herb mixture. There is great versatility in the lavender that not all are aware of.
Honeysuckle – Do you have a sweet tooth? If you find this particular flower in a field, you can pick one up and drink the nectar from it. In the culinary world the honeysuckle is used to sweeten drinks, make ice cream and as a syrup. Honeysuckle can sometimes be used as a sugar alternative.
Rose – While the rose is commonly associated with being a symbol of love, romance, and adoration, rose can also be consumed. The petals of the rose can be consumed, while the stem cannot. Rose petals can be incorporated into salads, or desserts.
While these are flowers that we often associate as being a great floral arrangement, turns out they can also be enjoyed as part of a meal.
Other edible flowers include those from a zucchini and squash. One thing that some gardeners may not realize or know is that while the flowers are beautiful and can brighten up a garden, the flowers on these two vegetables can actually impact the growth. One way of helping these plants maintain their growth is through trimming the flowers.
Why should one trim the flowers? Growing flowers requires energy and if you constantly direct the energy to the actual flower, then the fruits or rather vegetables, won’t be able to develop further. When you trim the flowers, you are actually redirecting them to focus on helping the fruit or vegetable blossom.
Going from the Vase to the Plate
While flowers are commonly given as a gift to show admiration and appreciation, they can be used as part of a dish. For some, they may not have realized that the flower is so much more than just a piece of beautiful décor. For example, take the rose, this flower can be given as a floral bouquet, then dried to make potpourri, or the petals can be incorporated into a dessert or salad. This one flower alone has multiple uses and functions.
The next time you are thinking or preparing for a floral delivery, consider the fact that the flowers you send may be used for a meal. Or, you can educate the recipient and let them know that the floral bouquet you have sent can be included in a dish. If you want to lend them a hand, you could also include a recipe of that specific flower.
When you go with a company like FloraQueen, you can add a personalized note and add that fascinating and somewhat unknown fact.