Are Magnolia Flowers Edible?

Last Updated on March 1, 2023 by Derek

Magnolia flowers are edible and can be used in a variety of ways, from salad dressings to magnolia syrup recipes. Magnolia flower petals are edible, and they have a ginger-cardamom taste.

What To Do with Magnolia Flowers

They are ideal for salad dressing when fresh. You can also use the petals to make your homemade magnolia syrup. All you need is to dissolve some sugar in boiling water, let it cool, then add it to fresh magnolia blooms and allow it to cool in a refrigerator. 

The syrup is good for baking and making cocktails. To enjoy magnolia throughout the year, you have to dry the flowers and store them for sprinkling on food. 

University of Washington

Video – The edible Magnolia tree

Magnolias

Common Name	Botanical Name	Soil pH Range	Soil Type	Sunshine	Growing Zones
Southern Magnolia	Magnolia grandiflora	5.0 – 6.5	Well-draining, moist	Full sun to partial shade	7-9
Star Magnolia	Magnolia stellata	5.5 – 6.5	Well-draining, moist	Partial shade	4-8

The Magnolia is the State flower of Louisiana and Mississippi

Magnolia Flower Recipes

You can make several things in the kitchen using magnolia flowers. Here are some magnolia flower recipes.

The pickled magnolia recipe is an ideal way of preserving magnolia blossoms to use for a longer time. You need magnolia petals, granulated sugar, white wine vinegar, and a pinch of salt for this recipe. Boil vinegar, sugar, and salt until the first bubbles appear and the sugar dissolves. Add the solution to a jar with the petals and leave to cool. Cover the jar and let it for two weeks before using it. 

Magnolia blossom jelly recipe is another excellent use of this flower. All you need to make the jelly is fresh petals, water, pectin liquid or powder, and sugar. 

Magnolia spice– you can still use magnolia flowers even after losing their color. Simply dry, grind them into powder, and store. You will be adding a small portion of the powder to your food as a spice for a long time. 

Magnolia Flower Tea Recipe

You can make herbal tea using magnolia flowers. All you need is to select fresh petals and clean them. Add them to boiling water and allow them to simmer for ten minutes. Your subtle but pleasant tea is ready to serve.

Magnolia Flower Tea Benefits

Magnolia tea has several health benefits.

1. It is ideal for weight loss.
2. It helps with digestion problems and constipation.
3. Magnolia stress tea helps to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms.
4. It is suitable for treating headaches.

Besides flowers, you can make magnolia bark tea. All you need is two teaspoons magnolia bark, two teaspoons mimosa bark, one teaspoon of cinnamon, and 1 cup of water. Mix the ingredients, boil them, and then simmer in low heat for ten minutes. Strain your tea and enjoy. 

The magnolia flower benefits for skin are just enormous. It is suitable for making skin-care products. The bud makes a skin whitener that can reverse irritation and side effects of other products.

Infographic – Which Magnolia flowers can be eaten?

Magnolia Petals

A magnolia flower has six to twelve petals. They could be white, pink, purple, or yellow. Some magnolia varieties produce edible flowers. You can add the fresh petals to salads, pickle them, or dry them to use as spices. 

Pickled Magnolia Petals

Once you prepare pickled magnolia petals, they can stay in the refrigerator for several days. They go well with spicy Asian dishes or substitute for sushi ginger. You can either eat the pickled petals alone or add them as an accompaniment to salads.

Candied Magnolia Petals

You can make candied magnolia petals at home with just simple steps. 

You need one cup of petals and one cup of sugar. You can increase the ingredients for a more robust, thicker, and sweeter syrup. Boil the water and sugar solution. Clean the petals and add them to the boiling solution. Simmer and keep stirring regularly until you achieve the thickness you desire. 

Are All Magnolia Flowers Edible?

It is not certain that all magnolia flower varieties are edible, which is why you have to test new types with caution. Here are some magnolia flowers.

Magnolia variety	Scientific name	Flower Edibility
Dwarf magnolia	Magnolia coco	Edible
Southern magnolia or bull	Magnolia grandiflora	Edible flowers
Bigleaf magnolia	Magnolia macrophylla	Edible
Lily Magnolia	Magnolia lilliflora	Edible
Loebner Magnolia	Magnolia x loebneri	Edible

Are Magnolia Flowers Poisonous to Humans?

Magnolia flowers are not poisonous to human beings. Some people believe that the southern magnolia flowers are not edible, which is invalid. These flowers are edible, but their flavor is quite intense, and their taste is just like their smell.

Also, you cannot eat them raw; you need to pickle them. You also cannot eat the entire southern magnolia blossom but only the petals. 

It would help to use the sweet/sour pickle recipe. Please take out the petals, dice them, and use them to flavor salads. The flavor will be too strong, so you have to go easy with your pickles.

What Do Magnolia Flowers Taste Like?

Generally, magnolia flowers have a ginger-cardamon taste, but different varieties have distinguished tastes. The center part disc that holds the stigma and the stamen has a more robust flavor. The spectrum has a more pungent taste due to its pinkness. As the pigment increases, the taste becomes bitter and overwhelming. 

The white and lighter varieties do not have a strong flavor. So, if you want to use the flowers fresh, it is better to go for the white types or those pink on the outside and white inside; the flavor will not be as strong.

The second-best option is a magnolia blossom that has a single tone, mid-light pink all through. Dark pinker pink ones are overwhelming when fresh, but they are perfect for drying as the flavor reduces on storage. 

Here is a checklist to help you judge the taste of most magnolia blossoms by their color. 

1. Dark pink flowers have a bitter, gingery-chili taste
2. The white/pink blossoms have gingery, cardamon flavors
3. The white ones have a lemon, pleasant, and sometimes floral flavor.

Are Magnolia Petals Poisonous?

Magnolia petals are not poisonous to either humans or pets. However, magnolia blossoms are not part of the cat or dog diet, resulting in some problems even if they ingest too much. Even though magnolia flowers are non-toxic, you should be careful with the bark, especially during pregnancy. 

Medical researchers link magnolia bark to kidney problems and subsequent kidney failure. Please take caution if you take magnolia and any medicine to induce sleep; it may cause drowsiness. Do not drive or operate heavy machines.

FAQ relating to edible Magnolia flowers

How can I prepare pickled Magnolia petals?

Pickled Magnolia petals can be prepared by soaking the petals in vinegar for several days, then straining them and storing them in the refrigerator for several days.

How can I use Magnolia flowers as a spice?

Magnolia flowers can be dried and used as a spice or condiment. They are also used in some parts of England as a pickled condiment.

Can Magnolia flowers be used in cooking?

Yes, Magnolia flowers can be used in cooking. They can be added to salads or used to infuse flavor into baked goods, such as cakes or breads.