Lavender flowers

Edible Flower #4: Lavender

The foliage of lavender (Lavandula sp.) is well known for its relaxing scent, but the lovely purple blossoms are also fragrant and flavorful. Lavender honey – made by turning honeybees loose on lavender flowers – is delicious, and the flowers themselves can be chopped and used, dried or fresh, in a variety of recipes.

Try adding a few spoonfuls of chopped flowers to a batch of sugar cookies or homemade vanilla ice cream. Or, chop a small handful of flowers to use in chutney or marinades. The flavor can be really intense, so use only a little.

Lavender is a shrubby perennial herb. English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is the yummiest and is hardy to planting zone 5, although all lavenders can be grown in pots and brought inside for the winter.

Editorial Contributors
avatar for Danny Lipford

Danny Lipford

Founder

Danny Lipford is a home improvement expert and television personality who started his remodeling business, Lipford Construction, at the age of 21 in Mobile, Alabama. He gained national recognition as the host of the nationally syndicated television show, Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford, which started as a small cable show in Mobile. Danny's expertise in home improvement has also led him to be a contributor to popular magazines and websites and the go-to source for advice on everything related to the home. He has made over 200 national television appearances and served as the home improvement expert for CBS's The Early Show and The Weather Channel for over a decade. Danny is also the founder of 3 Echoes Content Studio, TodaysHomeowner.com, and Checking In With Chelsea, a décor and lifestyle blog.

Learn More