Flower Vegetables

The term ‘vegetable’ includes various plant parts used for culinary purposes. So, the leaves, stems, fruits, roots, and flowers can all be considered a vegetable as long as they are cooked as a vegetable.

It might seem surprising, but cauliflowers and broccolis do not just look like flowers but actually flowers. Plenty of common vegetables are botanically considered flowers and are called flower vegetables. They are an essential part of all the major cuisines around the world.

List of Different Flowers That Are Eaten As Vegetables

• Cauliflower
• Artichoke
• Broccoli
• Banana Flower
• Broccolini Flowers
• Calabaza Flower
• Pumpkin Flower
• Moringa
• Zucchini Flowers
• Vegetable Hummingbird
• Blue Pea (Asian Pigeonwings)
• Caper
• Himbabao
• Kapas-Kapas
• Purple Bauhinia (Butterfly Tree)
• Daylily
• Jade Vine (Tayabak)
• Loroco
• Waterblommetjie (Water Hawthorn)
• Nasturtium Flowers
• Chive Blossoms

Squash blossoms, like zucchini, calabaza, and pumpkin flowers, are typically used for stuffing or making deep-fried fritters. Some, like daylilies and nasturtiums, are common components in salads. Flowers less commonly eaten as vegetables, like rose, lotus, and dandelion petals, are also added to salads in some cuisines.

More flower vegetables are out there in the form of cultivars and hybrids, like the Romanesco broccoli, a cauliflower hybrid.

Flowers like chamomile, lavender, marigold, and hibiscus are not included in this list as they are used more as herbs than vegetables.