Some flowers literally look good enough to eat: Nasturtium, borage, violets and other blooms have found their way to the table at restaurants and even in the homes of adventurous cooks. But there are some flowers that simply must remain in the vase: They're poisonous! And they don't all come with warning names like "deadly nightshade." Irises, calla lillies, sweet peas and potato flowers are all lovely to look at, common at weddings or in the garden (or at garden weddings), and completely poisonous.
This chart is a list of the most commonly-known poisonous plants and flowers to avoid while selecting edible flowers. It is not complete, so just because you do not see it listed here, do not assume it is safe to eat. Be sure you know exactly what you choose to consume. For more info on edible flowers, refer to my feature on Incredible Edible Flowers and Edible Flowers Chart with links to full-color photos and flavor info.
Non-Edible Flowers Chart
| Common Name | Botanical Name |
| Aconite (wolfsbane, monkhood) | Aconitum spp. |
| Anemone (windflower) | Anemone spp. |
| Anthurium | Anthurium spp. |
| Atamasco lily | Zephyranthes spp. |
| Autumn crocus | Colchicum autumnale |
| Azalea | Azalea spp. (Rhododendron spp.) |
| Baneberry | Actaea spp. |
| Black locust | Robinia pseudo-acacia |
| Bloodroot | Sanguinaria canadensis |
| Boxwood | Buxus spp. |
| Burning bush (strawberry bush, spindle tree, wahoo) | Euonymus spp |
| Buttercup | Ranunculus spp. |
| Butterfly weed | Asclepias spp. |
| Caladium | Caladium spp. |
| Calla (calla lily) | Calla palustris (Zantedeschia aethiopica) |
| Carolina jasmine (yellow jessamine) | Gelsemium sempervirens |
| Castor bean | Ricinus communis |
| Cherry laurel | Prunus caroliniana |
| Chinaberry (bead tree) | Melia azedarach |
| Christmas rose | Helleborus niger |
| Clematis | Clematis spp. |
| Daffodil | Narcissus spp. |
| Deadly nightshade (belladonna) | Atropoa belladona |
| Death cammas (black snakeroot) | Zigadenus spp. |
| Delphinium (larkspur) | Delphinium spp. |
| Dogbane | Apocynum androsaemifolium |
| Dumbcane | Dieffenbachia spp. |
| Elephant ears | Colocasia antiquorum |
| False hellebore | Veratrum viride |
| Four o'clock | Mirabills jalapa |
| Foxglove | Digitalis purpurea |
| Giant elephant ear | Alocasia spp. |
| Gloriosa lily | Glonosa superba |
| Golden chain tree (laburnum) | Labunum anagryroides |
| Goldenseal | Hydrastis canadensis |
| Heavenly bamboo (nandina) | Nandinaa domestica |
| Henbane (black henbane) | Hyoscyamus niger |
| Horse chestnut (Ohio buckeye) | Aesculus spp. |
| Horse nettle | Solanum spp. |
| Hyacinth | Hyacinthus orientalis |
| Hyacinth bean | Dolicbos lab lab |
| Hydrangea | Hydrangea spp. |
| Iris | Iris spp. |
| Ivy (English ivy) | Hedera helix |
| Jack-in-the-pulpit | Arisaemia triphyllum |
| Jerusalem cherry | Solanum pseudocapsicum |
| Jessamine (jasmine) | Cestrum spp. |
| Jetbead (jetberry) | Rhodotypos tetrapetala |
| Jimson weed | Datura spp (Brugmansia spp.) |
| Jonquil | Narcissus spp. |
| Kentucky coffee tree | Gymnocladus dioica |
| Lantana | Lantana camara |
| Leopard's bane | Arnica montana |
| Lily of the valley | Convallaria majalis |
| Lobelia (cardinal flower, Indian tobacco) | Lobelia spp. |
| Marsh marigold | Caltha palustris |
| May apple (mandrake) | Podophyllum peltatum |
| Mescal bean (Texas mountain laurel, frijo lillo) | Sophora secundiflora |
| Mistletoe | Phoradendron spp. |
| Morning glory | Ipomoea violacea |
| Mountain laurel | Kalmia latifolia |
| Nightshade | Solanum spp. |
| Oleander | Nerium oleander |
| Periwinkle (myrtle, vinca) | Vinca spp. |
| Philodendron | Philodendron spp. (Monstera spp.) |
| Pittosporum | Pittosporum spp. |
| Poison hemlock | Conium maculatum |
| Potato | Solanum tuberosum |
| Privet | Ligustrum spp. |
| Rhododendron | Rhododendron spp. |
| Rock poppy (celandyne) | Chelidonium majus |
| Schefflera | Schefflera spp. |
| Spring adonis | Adonis vernalis |
| Spurge | Euphorbia spp. |
| Star of Bethlehem | Ornithogalum umbellatum |
| Sweet pea | Lathyrus spp. |
| Tobacco | Nicotiana tabacum |
| Trumpet flower (chalice vine) | Solandra spp. |
| Water hemlock | Cicuta maculata |
| Wild cherry (black cherry) | Prunus serotina |
| Wisteria | Wisteria spp. |
| Yellow allamanda | Allamanda cathartica |
| Yellow oleander (tiger apple, be still tree, lucky nut) | Thevetia peruviana |
| Yesterday-today-and-tomorrow | Brunfelsia spp. |
• Edible Flowers Chart
• Edible Flowers Information and Recipes
• Herb Information
• Spice Information
• A to Z Recipes and Food
