Edible and Beneficial                   ( Scroll down to see entire list)

Calendula - Calendula officinalis                                       Edible Flower Petals

Colourful easy-to-grow orange flowers, great for attracting bees to the garden.  Petals add a splash of colour to salads.  Dried petals have been used for centuries as a substitute for saffron to add colour to rice.   Grows easily in most soils in full sun. Annual but aggressively self seeds.  Dead head before seeds form to contain spread.

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Chives - Allium schoenoprasum                                   Edible Greens and Flowers

Chives are perhaps the easiest and most versatile herbs to grow.  No matter how small your space you have rooms for chives – even if its just a pot on a sunny windowsill.  Chives are part of the onion family and are perennial - producing beautiful edible purple flowers and tasty greens that can be added to any salad or stir fry, not to mention sprinkled atop baked potatoes.  Grows easily in a variety of conditions but does best in a sunny spot soil that is rich in organic material and drains well.  Once established, cut back as required and it will quickly rejuvenate.

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Pink Coneflower - Echinacea                                              Attracts Beneficial

Easy to grow perennial. Tolerates a wide variety of soil conditions but thrive in rich organic well-draining soil in full sun to partial shade. Blooms in the fall and tolerates light frost. Height 60-90 cm Spread 15-30 cm

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Nasturtium Tropaeolum majus            Edible Seeds, Leaves and Flowers Petals

Beautiful low-growing annual ground cover with sprawling habit.   Easy to grow, self seeds.  Does well in moderate to poor soil but requires good drainage.  Rich soil leads to increased leaf growth at the expense of the flowers.  Plant in full sun or partial shade.  The peppery colourful flowers and leaves are a great addition to a salad.  Susceptible to aphid infestation – pick off the worst of the infested flowers and spray the rest with fine mist from your hose.

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Sunflower - Helianthus annuus                                                      Edible Seeds

Perhaps the most noticeable of all the edible flowers – grown for its tasty edible seeds.  Stunning flowers brighten up any garden.  Great for attracting bees and other beneficial insects to your garden. Grows best in full sun in rich well draining organic soil.  Short varieties can be grown in containers – large varieties may require staking.  Small birds love to feed on the seeds in the fall.