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Writer's pictureJulie Craig

Roses are for Eating... The language of Flowers.

Updated: Mar 10, 2022



With our Spring flowers still in bloom I thought it would be a good time to talk about the edible flowers that are blooming and how the language of edible petals affects us. If the flowers in your salad had meaning, what kind would you make? Of course, the meanings that we know of throughout history are thought of as posies or tussie mussies often called nosegays. There are many books written about them as secret signals of love or despair.


Of course, it would be remiss of me to begin with anything other than the queen of flowers, the aromatic and delicate rose, each colour with its own meaning:


White rose: purity, innocence, reverence, a new beginning, a fresh start

Red rose: love, I love you

Deep, dark crimson rose: mourning

Pink rose: grace, happiness, gentleness

Yellow rose: jealousy, infidelity

Orange rose: desire and enthusiasm

Lavender rose: love at first sight

Coral rose: friendship, modesty, sympathy


I have aromatic pink roses in my garden that give an abundance of life to the garden and all the insects that wait for their opening. I am using the petals that I've dehydrated from last season. Fresh, they are made into Rosewater (used for Turkish Delight, Baklava and Kefir Water), Rose Petal Jam (which we call "Love Potion") and Rose Petal Lollies (covered with an egg white wash and castor sugar before drying). All of these special treats in our household. Dried for use during the year, they are powdered and added to some make-up recipes, smoothies and for a decadent Rose latte or my Blackberry and Rose Tart.


Right now, we are eating nasturtiums, rose, honeysuckle, radish flowers, brocolli flower, kale flower... it's fair to say that a part of our growing is left to go to flower and then to seed, both for us and the bees! What are you eating? We'd love to know.


Below is a great little document that outlines a full list of the meaning of flowers. Enjoy!


Many blessings


Julie xx

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