Embracing the charm of nature's bounty, this guide delves into the art of weaving edible elements into floral arrangements. It's a journey that transforms ordinary bouquets into extraordinary visual feasts, sparking curiosity and conversation. The integration of familiar garden produce, from crisp vegetables to aromatic herbs and delicate edible blossoms, not only elevates aesthetic appeal but also offers a sustainable and engaging approach to floral design. This practice marries the practicality of horticulture with the creativity of floristry, inviting enthusiasts to explore a richer, more interactive connection with their gardens.
For years, this inventive practice has delighted observers, turning heads with unexpected touches of carrots in bridal bouquets, chili peppers in boutonnieres, and cherry tomatoes scattered through centerpieces. The author recounts instances of infusing raspberries into display settings and intertwining fragrant herbs into numerous floral creations, illustrating a personal passion for merging the garden and the gallery. This unique pairing often draws more attention to an arrangement than flowers alone, as the recognizable ingredients invite viewers to ponder and discuss the innovative design.
As you plan your cultivation for the season, consider dedicating space to these versatile edibles alongside your traditional cut flowers. Their beauty extends beyond mere ornamentation; they offer the added benefit of being a fresh, delicious harvest for your table. Many of these varieties are straightforward to propagate from seed, thriving in warm conditions from the peak of summer through the initial autumn chill. While some may benefit from the added warmth of a hoop house in cooler climates, ample sunshine is often all that's needed for a bountiful outdoor yield. Let's explore some prime choices for this dual-purpose gardening and design endeavor.
The Versatility of Vegetables in Arrangements
Peas, whether fresh or as young pods, are a culinary delight in salads, rice, and stir-fries, and add depth to soups. These cool-weather plants can be sown directly in early spring, requiring sturdy support for their climbing vines. Unique heirloom varieties like 'Blue Podded Blauwschokkers' offer striking dark purple pods, ideal for adding a cool-toned contrast to floral displays. 'Golden Sweet' produces vibrant chartreuse-yellow snow pea pods whose vining stems create unexpected visual interest in summer arrangements. For design, harvest pea stems when pods are vibrantly colored, ensuring gentle handling for a vase life of 5 to 7 days. It's crucial to distinguish these edible garden peas from sweet peas, whose seeds are toxic.
Tomatoes are arguably the most cherished garden vegetable for both eating and artistic display. Their smaller-fruited varieties are particularly adaptable for bouquets, gracefully cascading over the edges of any arrangement. Medium-sized fruits are also excellent for larger designs. Seeds should be started indoors 8 to 10 weeks before the last frost and transplanted outdoors once all frost danger has passed. These heat-loving plants flourish in hoop houses or tunnels. Favorite varieties include 'Currant Red,' known for its prolific tiny fruits, and 'Chocolate Cherry,' with its versatile color-shifting medium-sized fruit. 'Indigo Rose,' while less palatable, offers dramatic black fruit with green undersides, creating an eye-catching element in both garden and arrangement. For floral use, harvest tomatoes when fruits are developed but before they fully ripen, removing most leaves for a vase life of 4 to 5 days.
Tomatillos, an easy-to-grow, heat-loving and highly productive plant, yield fruits perfect for salsa and tangy green sauces. Harvest them for culinary use when the husk is full and beginning to split. Seeds should be started indoors 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost, then transplanted after frost danger has passed. Trellises or cages can help manage their growth. The 'Verde' tomatillo is particularly noted for its graceful stems and lantern-like pods that enhance arrangements. For design, harvest after seedpods have formed, and expect a vase life of 7 days.
The Aromatic Allure of Herbs
Herbs contribute unparalleled texture and fragrance to floral creations, a role traditionally secondary to their culinary applications. Here are four standout choices for both kitchen and bouquet.
Basil is the quintessential dual-purpose plant, celebrated for its aroma, ease of growth, and abundant summer foliage. While it's a fundamental ingredient for pesto, numerous varieties offer unique flavors for baking, roasting, and grilling. Start seeds indoors 6 weeks before the last frost, ensuring transplantation only after all frost danger has passed, as basil is highly cold-sensitive. For culinary purposes, harvest tender leaves, but for design, wait until stems firm up or flowers begin to emerge. To prevent wilting, harvest foliage during the coolest part of the day and place stems in water for several hours before arranging. Basil stems can last 7 to 10 days, often rooting in the vase.
Dill, a garden staple for pickling and canning, also excels in bouquets. Its fresh foliage and florets, combined with vinegar, create a wonderful summer side dish. Start dill seeds indoors 4 weeks before the last frost or direct-sow after frost danger, providing support to prevent toppling. Succession planting ensures a prolonged harvest. 'Bouquet' dill, an early-maturing variety, produces tall stems with large chartreuse umbels, making it a fragrant and versatile addition to summer arrangements. For bouquets, harvest when umbels are fully open and bright yellow-green, removing some fern-like foliage from the base. Expect a vase life of 7 to 10 days.
True Greek oregano is a resilient perennial, valued dried for pizza and Mediterranean dishes, and fresh for salads and sauces. Seeds should be started indoors 8 to 10 weeks before the last frost, requiring light for germination. Transplant after frost danger has passed. Its glowing green stems topped with airy white blossoms and fluffy green seed heads are striking in arrangements and attract pollinators. Harvest at any stage for design, from flowering to seed head formation, for a vase life of 7 to 10 days.
Orach, a fantastic spinach-like edible, also provides stunning seedy stems for large midsummer arrangements. Start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost or direct-sow after frost danger. 'Caramel Apple Mix' offers brilliant green and rich crimson hues, while 'Ruby Gold' features eye-catching acid green foliage with cranberry-streaked stalks. For early-season design work, fresh stems benefit from a 7- to 10-second dip in boiling water immediately after harvest, while seeded stems require no special treatment and can last up to 2 weeks in a vase.
Shiso, or perilla, a mint-family herb with a basil-like flavor, is a popular addition to Asian cuisine, salads, fish, and pasta. Freeze seeds for 2 to 3 weeks before sowing to aid germination. Sow indoors 4 weeks before the last frost, shallowly covering seeds as light is needed for germination. 'Purple Frills' shiso boasts striking deep maroon foliage with crimped, curled, and serrated leaves, adding exceptional textural interest to arrangements. This aromatic foliage is ideal for floral design from midsummer through autumn. Harvest when foliage is thick and stems are woody, or after a flower spike emerges, expecting a vase life of 7 to 14 days with preservative.
The Beauty of Edible Flowers
The surprising array of edible flowers available offers beautiful garnishes and unique earthy, nutty flavors and textures for various dishes. Here are some top picks.
Nasturtium flowers, with their peppery flavor, are a delightful and beautiful addition to salads and can elegantly decorate cakes. For culinary use, cut flowers in the cool morning or evening just before use. Start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost, transplanting after all frost danger has passed due to their cold sensitivity. Provide strong support for their rambling, bloom-covered vines, which are lovely in bouquets. The foliage maintains its integrity for a long time in a vase, adding dynamism to arrangements. 'Gleam Salmon,' a rare trailing variety, offers creamy, salmon-peach blossoms throughout summer. For maximum vase life, harvest flowers as they open. Both flowers and foliage last 7 to 10 days, longer with preservative.
Bachelor’s buttons, a classic garden flower, are easy to grow, attract pollinators, and are perfect for beginners. Regular harvesting ensures a long flowering period. Their bright, colorful petals serve as a charming garnish for salads or egg dishes. These cold-tolerant plants dislike transplanting, so direct-sow in fall or early spring. Succession planting every 2 to 3 weeks extends the harvest. Harvest individual flowers when buds are halfway open, or branching stems when most buds are colored. Expect a vase life of 7 days. Varieties like 'Classic Fantastic' (sapphire, pale blue, and bicolors) and 'Classic Romantic' (blush, pink, white, and bicolors) are exquisite choices for bouquets.
Calendula petals can be mixed into egg dishes or added fresh to salads. Whole florets can be frozen in ice cubes for colorful drinks, and dried petals can be stored for winter use. Start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost, or direct-sow and succession-plant every 2 to 3 weeks. For bouquets, pick when flowers are halfway open; with flower food, they last 6 to 8 days. Wear gloves when harvesting due to sticky foliage. 'Ivory Princess' is a tall variety with creamy buff-yellow petals and a dark brown eye, ideal for bouquets and weddings. 'Zeolights' features a dark reddish-brown eye and apricot-peach petals, making it a vibrant addition to market bouquets.
Marigold petals offer a surprising treat, used as a saffron substitute or a colorful addition to omelets, rice, and soups. Two miniature-flowered varieties, 'Tangerine Gem' (tangerine blooms with darker centers) and 'Starfire Mix' (red, orange, and gold shades), grow over 30 inches tall with dozens of small, glowing blooms. Their ferny foliage is wilt-resistant and scented, making them summer bouquet essentials. Start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost or direct-sow after the weather warms. Harvest when flowers are half-open for a vase life of 7 to 10 days.
Pansies, beloved across generations, add color and delight to salads and can be candied for cake garnishes or used fresh as decoration. They can grow tall enough for cut flowers, with stems reaching 8 to 15 inches. Start seeds indoors 10 to 12 weeks before the last frost; seeds require darkness to germinate. Pansies can withstand light frost, allowing for early transplanting. For arrangements, pick when flowers begin to open; they boast an incredibly long vase life, with new blooms appearing as old ones fade, lasting well over a week in plain water and over 10 days with flower food. Notable varieties include 'Frizzle Sizzle Yellow Blue Swirl' (smoky lavender-blue and gold with chocolate faces), 'Envy' (chocolate to metallic lavender to yellow with a green cast, strongly scented), 'Rococo Frill Mix' (yellow, velvet purple, lavender, and maroon with prominent veining), and 'Aalsmeer King Size Mix' (gold, cranberry, lavender, and bicolor flowers with distinct faces). Viola 'Gem Pink Antique' (violet-purple petals fading to iridescent mauve with hints of turquoise) is also stunning for small bouquets and exhibits good upright growth.
Ornamental Squash for Unique Displays
Ornamental squash varieties, cherished for their decorative appeal, also offer delicious culinary uses. When establishing your garden, consider planting these charming additions. Unlike plants that require close spacing, squash thrives with ample room to spread, ideally planted in hills with significant distances between them—for instance, rows 6 feet apart with 3 feet on each side of each plant. Direct sowing after the last frost is recommended, as they dislike root disturbance. Harvest when fruits are fully mature and the stem connecting them to the vine begins to brown, cutting the stems with a knife or pruning shears to about 3 to 4 inches. For storage, cure them in a warm, dark place for 2 to 3 weeks if not used immediately.
Among the favorites is 'Rouge Vif D’Etampes,' also known as the Cinderella pumpkin, a vibrant orange-red French variety that resembles the pumpkin transformed into Cinderella's carriage. While primarily decorative, its mild flavor is suitable for soups. 'Long Island Cheese' is a warm peach-toned pumpkin with a flat, cheese-wheel-like appearance, prized for its sweet flavor in pies and its excellent keeping quality. 'Zapalo Plomo' produces abundant medium-sized, deeply lobed fruits with a glaucous green hue, tan freckling, and long, tan stems, offering both beauty and a long shelf life. 'Galeux d’Eysines,' a unique French heirloom, is a peach-colored squash covered in rough, peanut-like spots, a striking specimen for those who appreciate its unusual beauty, and also excellent for baking and soups.
Raspberries: Foliage and Fruit for Arrangements
Raspberries are incredibly adaptable, and their foliage has long been a favorite for bouquets due to the plants' wild productivity throughout the summer. Summer-fruiting varieties, such as 'Tulameen,' provide beautiful fruited branches, offering abundant foliage for 3 to 4 weeks. Their greens can last over two weeks in a vase. Everbearing types like 'Summit' and golden varieties are ideal for an extended harvest of fruiting stems. These can be cut back to the ground in winter for easy maintenance, spread rapidly to increase stock, and tolerate poorer soil conditions better than traditional summer-fruiting types.
Integrating edible plants into floral designs offers a unique and engaging way to blend aesthetic beauty with practical utility. Whether through vibrant vegetables, aromatic herbs, charming edible flowers, or distinctive ornamental squashes and raspberries, these natural elements enrich arrangements with texture, color, and a story. This approach not only provides a fresh perspective on floral artistry but also encourages a deeper appreciation for the diverse gifts our gardens provide, transforming simple bouquets into memorable conversation pieces and delectable treats.