(These are the most commonly consumed flowers of the eighty edible varieties.)
Borage blossoms (Borago officinalis) - tiny blue flowers have slight cucumber flavour.
Calendula flowers (Calendula officinalis) - also known as "pot marigolds", multi-coloured blooms with a peppery taste. Sometimes called "poor man's saffron"
Carnation flowers (Dianthus caryophyllus) - red, pink, and white blossoms with clove taste.
Chamomile flowers (Chamaemilum nobile) - Daisy-like flowers with a slight hint of apple flavor. Especially good for parrots when calming influence is needed.
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) - the lavender-pink pom pom flower is actually composed of many small florets. Flowers have a mild onion flavour.
Daisies (Bellis perennis) - yellow and white flowers with light mint or clover flavour.
Dandelion flowers - small yellow blossoms have honey flavour when picked young. Older flowers are bitter but parrots do not seem to notice. Also offer the dandelion leaves which are an excellent source of nutrition.
Day Lilies (Hemerocallis) - many coloured blossoms with sweet taste and crunchy lettuce texture. Flower buds and blossoms can be consumed at all stages of growth. Note: Many lilies (Lillium species) contain alkaloids and are NOT safe for parrots or people.
Elderberry flowers (Sambucus canadensis) - sweet tasting flowers. For colds and chills, Gypsies mix elderberry flowers, yarrow and peppermint and steep in boiling water for 13 minutes, and drink tea frequently.
Gladiolus (Gladiolus spp.) - flowers of many colours grow on a spike with flowers above each other, all usually facing the same way. Has lettuce texture and flavour.
Hibiscus flowers (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) - tropical blossoms in a variety of colours have slightly acidic taste. One of the favourite flowers of most parrot species.
Honeysuckle flowers (Japanese Lonicera japonica) - small white to yellow trumpet-shaped blossoms are sweet and delicious. Parrots relish these flowers and the Loridae family of birds especially loves the honeysuckle nectar. Only the Japanese honeysuckle is edible and only the blooms should be used as the berries are extremely poisonous. Offer only the flowers so that no berries on the vines will accidentally be eaten.
Impatiens (Impatiens wallerana) - multi-colour small blooms with mild taste.
Johnny-Jump-Up flowers (Viola tricolour) - yellow, violet, and lavender flowers with wintergreen flavour. Leaves are also edible and contain vitamin C.
Lilac (Syringa vulgaris) - lavender blossoms have heavy floral fragrance and lemon flavour.
Marigold flowers (Tagetes signata pumila) - bright yellow and orange flowers with citrus flavour.
Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) - purple flowers are edible as well as leaves and seeds which are known for benefits to liver.
Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus) - red, yellow, and orange flowers have a tangy, peppery flavour and are the most popular of all edible flowers. Leaves can be eaten too.
Pansies (Viola X Wittrockiana) - purple, white, yellow bi-colour blooms have a sweet, tart flavour.
Passionflowers - (Passifloraceae - passion flower family) - Passiflora caerulea and Passiflora edulis are two of the hundreds of varieties. Some vines produce large greenish white and purple blossoms and then orange or purple edible fruit, depending upon the variety of the plant.
Roses (Rosa spp) - some of the tastiest rose varieties are Rosa xdamascena, Rosa gallica, and Rosa rugosa, Flower carpet rose, Double Delight, Mirandy, and Tiffany variety. Roses have a slight fruity flavour.
Sage (Salvia officinalis) - lavender-blue flower spikes grow only on the culinary variety. The variegated species of sage do not flower. Flowers have distinctive sage flavour.
Other herb flowers - the tiny flowering blooms of the following spices are edible: Anise, Basil, Bee Balm, Coriander (cilantro), Dill, Fennel, Garlic, Oregano, Rosemary, and Thyme.
Sunflowers (Helianthus) - many varieties but most have yellow leaves around a "black eye" centre. Mature flowers contain the seed that all parrots find so irresistible!
Tree flowers - parrots can be offered the flowering blooms of the following trees: Apple, Bottlebrush, Citrus (orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit, kumquat), Eucalyptus, Melaleuca, and Plum.
Tulips (Tulipa spp.) - multi-colour flowers with crisp, cucumber taste.
Vegetable flowers - Butterblossom squash flowers have slight squash taste. Zucchini flowers, Podded Pea flowers (ornamental peas are poisonous), Okra, Pumpkin, and Runner Bean flowers are edible.
Violets (Viola odorata) - deep violet and white colour with sweet wintergreen taste.
Obviously if they have been treated with pesticides, they are not safe!!