Have you ever grown edible flowers? A small kitchen or windowsill garden adds charm and convenience. Recently I found some delicate violas at a local garden shop and planted many in pots. With a few extras leftover, I decided to tuck them into colorful coffee mugs for a playful, practical display.
I’ve made miniature mug gardens for years; they’re simple and cheerful. This was my first time planting edible flowers in mugs, and they make a lovely, thoughtful gift for Mother’s Day, a housewarming, or just to brighten your kitchen. I’ve been inspired by the Botanical Baking cookbook to add edible flowers to more of our baking and cooking. They’re lovely on salads, yogurt, and cakes. I’ve shared a collection of edible-flower recipes and ideas in a previous post for more inspiration.
My husband recently made a blueberry dessert and garnished it with a couple of the flowers from the mugs—so sweet and photogenic. Keeping edible flowers in the kitchen makes them easy to reach when you want a fresh garnish.
Mugs work well for short-term displays and will keep plants happy for weeks without drainage. Eventually the plants may become too tall and will benefit from being moved into larger pots or planted in the garden. With mug plantings, the most important rule is to avoid overwatering—water sparingly when the soil is just starting to dry. In a sunny kitchen spot I often water lightly every day.
This spring I also added forget-me-nots to my collection—another charming edible flower. I was delighted to see them naturalize in our yard last year, and I’ll be planting the new ones in Lily’s Garden this week. Small edible flowers like these are perfect for brightening dishes and adding delicate flavor and texture.
Want more ideas for using edible flowers in pretty, delicious treats? Check out another post full of recipes and inspiration.
Want more ideas for using edible flowers in pretty, delicious treats? Check out another post full of recipes and inspiration.
More gardening inspiration:
DIY Coffee Mug Herb Garden
3 Ways to Create a Happy Garden
Five 5-Minute Gardens (including teacup gardens)
DIY Terrarium Diffuser
Spring in Our Outdoor Oasis (A Side Patio Refresh)
My Potting Area and Lily’s Garden
My Backyard Tour and Secret Garden (previous house)
DIY Pallet Garden