Flowers aren’t just for decoration—they can also provide powerful medicinal and culinary benefits. Growing the right flowers in your garden allows you to enjoy their vibrant beauty while also harnessing their healing and flavor-enhancing properties. From soothing teas and skin treatments to adding color and flavor to salads and desserts, many flowers offer a wealth of practical uses beyond the garden bed. In this article, we’ll explore 10 versatile flowers that are easy to grow and provide both health benefits and culinary delights—making them a must-have for any home garden.
Medicinal Gardening
Flowers are well-known for their medicinal benefits. This is an area I’ve started to dive into in particular the last few years and it’s part of the pull I’ve felt towards flowers. Flowers are know for their beauty yes, but the medicinal aspects of each flower is amazing to me.
However you choose to view nature, creation, coincidence – it’s truly awe-inspiring to know that there’s plants growing at our feet that provide us with healing benefits. There’s so many flowers, herbs and plants that provide these benefits that it’s literally impossible to name them all. How is that so? I’m not posing a question about creation, but truly, how?
I’ve taken a step back from pharmaceutical healing whilst I’m sick. Those cough syrups are full of so much garbage it’s not worth it and they don’t actually help. My main goal this season is to grow these flowers, make a list of our common winter ailments, and start harvesting and preserving all their benefits and take on the winter colds with only these medicinal plants. I started last year with 4, and I’m growing my arsenal to include all of these. I encourage you to do the same! Pick medicinal flowers to grow, start somewhere and see where it takes you!
Top 10 Commonly Found Flowers to Grow for Medicinal Benefits
1. Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
Calendula is known for its bright orange and yellow petals, which have powerful anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. It’s commonly used in skin salves and teas to soothe wounds, rashes, and digestive issues. Calendula prefers full sun and well-drained soil. Deadheading the flower regularly to encourage more blooms. See it’s companions for planting.
2. Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla or Chamaemelum nobile)
Chamomile’s small, daisy-like flowers are valued for their calming and anti-inflammatory effects. Chamomile tea is popular for reducing stress, aiding sleep, and soothing digestive discomfort. It is also popularly used in tinctures. The flower/herb thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers well-drained soil. Harvest flowers when fully open.
3. Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea)
Echinacea’s purple coneflowers are widely used to boost the immune system and reduce the severity of colds and infections due to it’s antiviral properties. Herbalists use echinacea in teas, tinctures and capsules. The roots and petals are the main components used in teas and tinctures. The flower grows best in full sun and well-drained soil. Attracts pollinators and is drought-tolerant.
4. Lavender (Lavandula spp.)
Lavender’s fragrant purple flowers are prized for their relaxing and antimicrobial properties. It’s commonly used in aromatherapy, teas, and baked goods to promote calm and reduce anxiety. Lavender requires full sun, well-drained soil, and good air circulation. Prune after flowering to promote growth.
5. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Yarrow’s clusters of small, white or pink flowers have been used for centuries to stop bleeding and reduce inflammation. Its leaves and flowers can also be brewed into a tea to aid digestion and relieve fever. Yarrow is commonly used in teas and poultices. The plant is drought-tolerant and thrives in full sun with well-drained soil.
6. Rose (Rosa spp.)
Rose petals are rich in vitamin C, antioxidants and have a delicate floral flavor that aids in relaxation. They are often used in teas, jams, and desserts and have mild astringent properties that benefit skin health. Roses prefer full sun and well-drained soil. Regular pruning encourages more blooms, so cut yourself a fresh bouquet every so often.
7. Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)
Red clover’s pinkish-purple blossoms are known for their detoxifying and hormone-balancing properties. It’s often used in teas to support respiratory health and balance estrogen levels. Red clover grows in full sun to partial shade with well-drained soil. It also improves soil fertility. It commonly grows on the ground so if you allow your clover grass to grow a little, you can determine if you already have some growing on your property.
8. Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis)
Marshmallow’s soft pink flowers and roots have soothing properties for the throat and digestive tract. It’s used to relieve coughs, indigestion, and skin irritation. Its commonly used in teas and syrups. There’s quite a few viral videos of making traditional marshmallows using marshmallow and having those anti-inflammatory benefits. The plant prefers moist soil and full sun to partial shade. Harvest its roots in fall for medicinal use.
9. Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Dandelions! They are everywhere in the spring, so much so it’s considered a weed by many. Poor flower! It’s beautiful yellow petals bring me so much joy in those early spring days! Dandelion flowers, leaves, and roots are packed with nutrients, vitamins and have detoxifying properties while also aiding in digestion. The flowers can be used in salads and teas, while the roots are often roasted for a coffee-like drink. Dandelions thrive in almost any soil and full sun. It’s worth considering to grow in containers to prevent spreading.
10. Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
It produces tall spikes of bright yellow flowers that bloom in the second year of growth. While it is often classified as an herb, it is technically a biennial wildflower that thrives in meadows, roadsides, and gardens. Mullein flowers are valued for their respiratory benefits, it’s used in teas to soothe coughs, congestion and reduce inflammation in the lungs. Making a tincture to add to teas or taking straight is another way to access it’s vital properties. Harvest mullein leaves in the first year, and the flowers in the second year for medicinal use. The flower prefers full sun and well-draining soil, the plant can very easily grow over 6 feet tall.
Flowers, Plants or Herbs??
Wait, are all these plants and herbs listed here actually flowers? Yes, there are specific details determining the differences between a plant, a flower and an herb. I’ve broken them down in my article, 8 surprising benefits to growing flowers and how to be successful.
To make it extremely short: all flowers are plants, but not all plants are flowers.
Flowers For Stress Relief
Flowers provide stress-relieving benefits, their loving scents sooth our nervous system and lower cortisol levels. Don’t believe me? Go smell some fresh lavender, take some deep breaths and tell me you don’t feel more relaxed.
Many types of flowers have stress-relieving benefits, and we extract these scents to help us when we can’t access the fresh cut flowers. Using the dried flowers or in an essential oil is a great way to benefit from them when it’s the middle of winter. Putting their essence in candles is another great way to do that, check out our friend’s amazing all-natural candle company.
Top Flowers to Actually Eat
Using flowers in teas is nothing new to most people. But how often have you actually eaten a flower? It’s odd to think about it. To start actually ingesting flowers, if raw scares you, I recommend drying out the flower and using it as a dried spice. For example, dry calendula flowers and add the dried petals to a rice dish.
The best medicinal advice I’ve ever received, is to eat your medicine. Don’t just take your golden morning cocktail (orange juice, turmeric, black pepper, etc). Add garlic and garlic scapes to your pasta dish, add dandelion leaves to your salad. Eat medicine whenever possible.
Sweet & Mild-Flavored Edible Flowers
- Violas & Pansies (Viola spp.) – Delicate, slightly sweet flavor. Great for salads, cakes, and ice cubes.
- Borage (Borago officinalis) – Cucumber-like taste. Perfect for drinks, salads, and desserts.
- Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) – Apple-like taste. Used in teas, syrups, and desserts.
- Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) – Young flowers are mildly sweet; great in salads, jellies, and wine.
Citrus & Herbal-Flavored Edible Flowers
- Calendula (Calendula officinalis) – Peppery, tangy flavor. Use in salads, soups, and rice dishes.
- Lavender (Lavandula spp.) – Floral, slightly citrusy. Used in teas, baked goods, and syrups.
- Basil Flowers (Ocimum basilicum) – Spicy and herbaceous like basil leaves. Good for pesto and garnishes.
- Rose (Rosa spp.) – Sweet and fragrant. Used in jams, syrups, teas, and desserts.
Spicy & Peppery Edible Flowers
- Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) – Spicy, peppery flavor similar to arugula. Great for salads, sandwiches, and pickling.
- Chive Blossoms (Allium schoenoprasum) – Onion-like taste. Used in salads, soups, and compound butters.
- Mustard Flowers (Brassica spp.) – Spicy, similar to mustard greens. Used in salads and stir-fries.
- Radish Flowers (Raphanus sativus) – Mildly spicy. A nice addition to salads and tacos.
Unique & Exotic Edible Flowers
- Hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa) – Tart, cranberry-like flavor. Used in teas, jams, and cocktails.
- Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) – Young buds taste like artichokes. Or fry up the entire head once almost fully bloomed. Petals are great in salads and seeds are also edible for an easy snack.
- Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) – Mild floral taste. Used in teas and as a garnish.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed this flower guide! If you did make sure you check out the other growing guides, seed saving guides and our recipes. Also consider subscribing to get our articles directly into your inbox when they are posted. We are growing our website with more articles all the time, and we invite you to grow with us. If you have any questions about flowers for medicinal or culinary use, or would like to share some of your knowledge with us please leave a comment below. Happy gardening! – DBSFarmWilson
