By Marilyn Hovius, Master Gardener, SCMG
Plant Red and to add to the thrill of it all, why not Eat Red? It’s 2022 and this is the year of the garden and to celebrate, Plant RED! The first article in the “RED” series included a list of suggested RED plants. Now let’s have some fun and dive into which ones are edible and why eat RED in the first place.
Why eat red plant-based foods? The short answer is that red plant parts are packed with powerful antioxidants and research has shown that antioxidants help fight the aging process, cancer, heart disease and reduces the risk of macular degeneration. That certainly sounds like good reasons to eat red plants. Of course, red plant parts can also be delicious raw and cooked, who doesn’t love a sweet red cherry right off the tree or a freshly made marinara sauce poured over pasta. So delicious!
The big question is, which of the plants on the red plant list are safe to eat? The short answer is that some are, some aren’t, and some are untested! So, let’s be careful and only eat the ones we are sure are safe. Be sure to eat everything in moderation and DO YOUR RESEARCH. Some of the plants on the red plant list may be safe to eat, however, there could be complications for persons with specific health conditions and on certain medications. The amount of information on the internet with regards to edible plants can be overwhelming so if unsure, talk to your medical team of experts first. For example, Tuberous Begonia flower petals are edible and great in tea but should not be consumed by individuals suffering from gout, kidney stones or rheumatism.
For your online “what’s safe to eat” research, a couple well compiled lists, based off of current research and historical records. can be found at the links below, from the Thompson and Morgan UK based Seed Company website ( https://www.thompson-morgan.com/edible-flowers#:~:text=All%20dahlia%20flowers%20and%20tubers,spicy%20apple%20or%20even%20carrot. ) and the What’s Cooking America website ( https://whatscookingamerica.net/edibleflowers/edibleflowersmain.htm ). The West Coast Seeds Company, based out of BC also has information on their website regarding edible garden plants ( https://www.westcoastseeds.com/blogs/garden-wisdom/list-of-edible-flowers ).
When harvesting from your garden it’s best to avoid the faded, dusty, old and diseased red plant parts. As well, if you use pesticides, be sure to read the label on days to harvest/how long to wait before consumption. You might want to avoid harvesting from areas of your garden frequented by your friendly neighbourhood cats and dogs, you just don’t know what they have left on the plants that might change the flavour!!!
Back to the Red Plant List from the first article in the “RED” series. Here is a small snapshot of what you might want to taste test:
1) Rose Hip or Rose Petal tea
2) Sweet William red flower petals in a fruity salad
3) Day Lily (only eat Hemerocallis as Lilium are poisonous)
4) Gladiolus flower petals in a dessert mousse and petals in a summer savoury soup
5) Heuchera leaves tossed in a salad, might be a bit bitter but add a sweet dressing!
