Edible Flowers: Magnificent Magnolias on the Menu

Although I’ve been growing and using edible flowers for over 20 years, I’m still learning and expanding my repertoire. Recently when I saw that a friend’s magnolia was starting to bloom, I remembered that magnolia is an edible flower. After checking with my friend to make sure she had not used any pesticides or chemical fertilizers, I popped a petal in my mouth. Sure enough—it had a slight ginger taste!

I did some research on whether or not magnolia flowers are edible after I had seen two foragers post recipes for them on Instagram. It looks like both of them used a grandiflora type of magnolia. The Plants for a Future (PFAF) database gives Magnolia grandiflora an edibility rating of 2 out of 5. It says, “The flowers are pickled in some parts of England and are considered to have an exquisite flavour. They are also said to be used as a spice and a condiment.” 

Both of the instagrammers used the flowers like one would use ginger as a spice in baking. Andrea Vanzo (@foraged.by.fern) dried and crushed magnolia petals to make Magnolia and Rhubarb Crumble Bars Alexis Nicole (@blackforager) froze some unopened flower buds so she could grate them to put an extra gingery snap in her Magnolia Snap Cookies. I would like to try one of these recipes when I get the opportunity to forage for magnolias with larger and sturdier blooms. Alas, I’m not growing any magnolias in my garden. If you are and would like to share them, let me know!

Magnolia flowers can also be used in savory dishes. PFAF gives Whitebark Magnolia a 2 out of 5 edibility rating, and says, “The young leaves and flower buds are boiled and eaten as a vegetable. Older leaves are powdered and sprinkled on food as a flavouring. Whole dried leaves are placed on a barbecue, filled with miso, leeks, daikon and shitake then broiled. The delightful aroma of the leaves permeates the miso mixture which is then served with rice.”

Other magnolias, including my friend’s Star Magnolia, have a PFAF edibility rating of 1 out of 5. That means they’re still edible—although the flavor may not be as strong. The University of Washington notes a source which says that the Lily Tree magnolia flowerbuds, which are rated 1 out of 5 for edibility, “are used in Asian cuisine. After removing the calyxes, the buds are pickled and used to flavor rice, and to scent tea.”

With my friend’s permission I took a few flowers home and decided to use them to flavor the chicken stir fry that I had for dinner. I could have mixed the petals with rice or quinoa, but instead I mixed them with organic lettuce and topped it with my leftover stir fry.  I added a few more petals on top as garnish. It was easy and magnolficent!