A flower is more than just a pretty face. For centuries, flowers have been used as sources of food, drink, medicine, and more. Today, these uses are becoming more popular. There are many other practical uses of flowers that may surprise you. For myself, I enjoy making flower teas, crafts, and salads; I encourage you to include flowers in your diet and in your crafts as well.
Tea
flowers have been brewed for centuries. Among the flowers used to make tea are chamomile, jasmine, and bee balm. You can also make tea from the flowers, leaves, and roots of a variety of other plants. Many of these beverages are tasty in addition to being healthy. Blooming teas are aesthetically pleasing as well as flavourful.
Medicine
As you probably know, many medicines and drugs are made from plants; however, some are made from the flowers – not just the leaves or roots. Chamomile flowers are used in poultices for bruises and sprains, as well as essential oils. Lavender flowers are widely used in aromatherapy due to their calming properties. Hoops flowers are used as sedatives. Wormwood, such as santonin, has flowers that treat worms.
Food
It’s not uncommon for flowers to look so good they can be eaten-and sometimes they are! Flowers make a beautiful and unexpected addition to salads, baked goods, and meals. Flowers like Nasturtiums, Chive Blossoms, and Violets can add flavour and colour to salads. Flowers from squash and dandelion can be battered and fried. Adding lavender flowers to cookies is delicious, while pansies and violas can be candied and used to decorate cakes. Making sure the flower you are eating is edible is extremely important, since many flowers can make you sick if eaten. You should also make sure that flowers you plan to eat have not been treated with pesticides.
Dyes
Flowers were used to make the first dyes. Flowers such as yarrow, calendula, saffron, and golden rod can produce yellow dyes. Safflower and foxglove produce red and yellow dyes, respectively. Hollyhock flowers produce dyes of different colours based on their colour.
Companion Planting
Certain flowers make excellent companions for other plants. Flowers that repel insects or attract beneficial insects make great companions. Marigolds, for example, are known to repel nematodes and insects like whiteflies and tomato hornworms. If you plant them near vegetables, including tomatoes, they can help protect them. Increasing soil fertility and suppressing weeds can be achieved by planting certain flowers and cover crops.
Pesticides
Insects usually go together well with flowers, but it’s not always the case. Some plants are used to produce pesticides. A type of chrysanthemum flower is used to make pyrethrin, a powerful pesticide that kills lice, flies, beetles, mosquitoes, and roaches. Another common insecticide is citronella, which you’ve probably encountered in the mosquito repellent aisle.
You are amazing and multifaceted, and flowers are no different. Enjoy their many applications and share some stems with friends!
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