Bloom and Grow – How to Create a Beautiful (and Edible!) Bouquet

Call me old school, but I am such a big fan of a dozen red roses delivered to my door. There’s nothing like coming home to see an arrangement sitting on your doorstep or waiting for you on your desk at work. Bonus points if they arrive on a day that isn’t a holiday or an anniversary, but, instead, as a complete surprise!

A bouquet can:
• make you feel loved
• brighten a room
• lift your spirits
• even be used in your cooking and for nutritional purposes!

Roses, like many flowers we receive in bouquets, are actually an edible bloom. In fact, there are several Tower Garden-friendly flowers that you can eat, including violets, nasturtiums, daisies, marigolds, and pansies, to name a few. Find a list of all the flowers you can grow with Tower Garden here.

And while it may feel a little odd to pick apart a bouquet and turn it into a salad, snack on petals, or use fresh lettuces in an arrangement, consider this:
The blooms and greens on your Tower Garden can be used to create gorgeous bouquets, centerpieces, and décor, and then upcycled into a delicious recipe. 
That’s a win-win if we’ve ever seen one.

What greens are best for a bouquet?
If you’re considering planting a “bouquet garden,” you may be wondering where to begin.

The idea is to grow herbs and vegetables that are both edible and aesthetically pleasing — and will also hold up well in an arrangement. For example, a head of lettuce has a shorter stem and is more difficult to arrange, whereas dino kale can gain a few inches of height as it’s growing, which makes it a great filler green in a bouquet.

Some of our favorite greens for bouquets are:

Kale – The dark green color and hearty leaves make this plant both beautiful and durable, as it won’t wilt too quickly. Check out our advice on how to grow kale, a Tower Gardener favorite!

Rosemary – Not only does it smell divine and add a unique taste to your cooking, a sprig of rosemary adds texture to an arrangement.

Lemongrass – Another herb that will bring delightful scents to your bouquets! Lemongrass is a fantastic green to use as a filler.

Rainbow Swiss Chard – Not only does chard have gorgeous, colorful stems that crop up in reds, yellows, and deep green hues, they add a tasty crunch. Learn how to grow chard.

Green Onion – A great alternative for an arrangement that will eventually make a savory recipe.

Arugula – With stems that can stretch and wind around your Tower Garden, arugula looks lovely and intricate in a bouquet.

Just to name a few.

What flowers can I eat?
Ah, the blooms. The star of the show when it comes to a bouquet. While you can absolutely use whatever flowers you wish when creating a decorative arrangement, if you want your bouquet to be strictly edible, your options are a little more limited.

Here are some examples of tasty, safe-to-eat flowers that will look stunning:

Dwarf Sunflowers – A bright yellow pop of color will draw attention to your edible creation instantly.

Marigold – This bloom has many medicinal uses, as well as a dark burnt orange hue to give warmth to your bouquet.

Pansies – This sweet and delicate bloom comes in a variety of colors, all of which are edible and will look delightful when arranged on a salad.

Daisies – A classic favorite! Everyone loves the bright and whimsical qualities of a daisy, and they’ll love tasting it even more!

Echinacea – Also known as coneflowers, the beautiful pink petals of this bloom have medicinal properties as well as aesthetic appeal.

Dandelion – Both the leaves and blooms of this flower are edible and can be used as a surprise ingredient in cookies, jams, jellies, and syrup. Or, of course, sprinkled on top of a salad.

How do I arrange my edible bouquet?
This is where your creativity comes into play. You can mix textures, sizes, colors, and heights to create a mismatched bouquet, or keep things more uniform for a simple and elegant style.

We recommend:

1. Harvesting the blooms and greens you intend to use with plenty of length at stem.
2. Select the vase you’ll be using.
3. Add both filler greens and blooms until you’re satisfied with the finished product.
4. Accent it with a ribbon, string, or yarn, or a recipe card with instructions of how to prepare the bouquet and eat it once the receiver has enjoyed it visually.

Whether you intend for your arrangement to be used as a salad, a smoothie, or another concoction, receiving the raw ingredients for a healthy and edible treat is sure to delight. Imagine receiving a romaine lettuce “Caesar Salad Bouquet” with a pack of dressing tied to the ribbon. Or perhaps a “Get Well Soon Bouquet” with an instruction card for brewing dandelion and echinacea tea.

What kind of arrangement would you like to receive? Do tell in the comments below!