Hardiness: fully hardy (where perennial)
A collection of 6 edible flowering plants' seeds in a beautifully illustrated gift box.
Beautifully designed and containing a mix of colourful flowering plant seeds whose edible blooms can be sprinkled on salads or used to decorate or brighten meals.This wonderful collection is an ideal gift for a budding gardener who is looking to grow edible flowers from seed.
In this selection you will receive 6 individual seed packets containing one each of the following varieties within a sturdy, illustrated cardboard gift box.
Nasturtium (Tropaeolum 'Black Velvet'): This compact, non-trailing nasturtium has deep-red flowers that have a velvety texture and look almost black in low light. They appear in great profusion over a prolonged period and the best display is produced when they are grown in full sun with poor soil. Commonly used as a decorative addition to salads. Grows to 30cm.
Heartsease (Viola 'Tricolor'): Dainty, small-headed pansies in shades of purple, violet, cream and yellow, appear in profusion for a long period throughout the summer. The flowers of this annual or short-lived perennial are edible and can be used to garnish puddings or add to salads. Perfect plant for the woodland garden, they also make very pretty addition to posies. Grows to 15cm.
Primrose (Primula vulgaris): Lemon-yellow, often fragrant flowers among rosettes of large, deeply-veined, bright-green leaves from February to May. Primroses look especially lovely in a woodland garden or along a shady bank. The flowers are edible and have a slightly sweet taste. They make a very pretty garnish for salads, but as some people are allergic to the primin they contain, you should try just a small amount initially. Perennial. Grows to 20cm.
Borage (Borago officinalis): A wonderfully useful as well as decorative plant. The young leaves and vivid blue flowers of this annual herb have a fresh cucumber-like flavour, so are often used in salads, soups, chilled drinks or simply as a garnish. The flowers attract bees and other beneficial insects, while the foliage has been known to reduce attacks of hornworm when planted between tomato plants. At the end of the year, add the plants to the compost heap as they will promote many beneficial minerals. Borage is an annual plant, but it will self-seed readily in good conditions. Tolerates partial shade. Grows to 1m.
Pot marigold (Calendula officinalis): Daisy-like flowerheads in a vivid shade of orange, create a wonderful display when they appear in profusion above the softly hairy, aromatic leaves. This fast-growing annual, is ideal for the filling gaps in the border and the flowers last well after being cut. The petals are edible and have a peppery flavour, which can be used to enhance the flavour and add colour to soups, meat, egg and rice dishes as well as salads. Grows to 50cm.
Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus): Piercing, bright blue flowers with ruffled petals and violet-blue centres appear from early to late summer among lance-shaped, mid-green leaves. Once a common sight in cornfields, this lovely annual is perfect for naturalising in a sunny wildflower meadow and is a magnet for butterflies and bees. The flower petals are edible and have a clove-like taste. Grows to 1m.
