List of Edible Magnolia Flowers

There is apparently no known toxicity to magnolia (unless you have an allergy). However I wanted to find magnolia species that have traditionally been used in human culture and recorded in the food record.

Outside the list below, you are on your own. Personally I try them all and my friend Kim Walker who works at Kew did an interesting magnolia taste test with a colleague.

According to Thomas Elpel in his fantastic book Botany in a Day (6th edition), there are 7 genera and about 220 species in the magnolia family.

I have spent considerable time exploring which species have edible magnolia flowers. Below is a list of the ones that I have found in the ethnobotanical record. It is by no means an exhaustive list.

Edible Magnolia Flowers

• Magnolia coco ²
• Magnolia grandiflora ^{2, 3}
• Magnolia denudata ^{2, 3}
• Magnolia hypoleuca ^{2, 3}
• Magnolia kobus ^{2, 3}
• Magnolia liliflora ⁶
• Magnolia mexicana ⁵
• Magnolia pterocarpa ²
• Magnolia soulangeana ¹

Edible Magnolia Flower Recipes

• Braised Magnolia Flower Buds
• Magnolia Flower & Tempeh Dumplings
• Magnolia Syrup Recipe
• Magnolia Flower Vinegar
• Pickled Magnolia Flowers

References

1. Hu, S. (2005) Food Plants of China. Hong Kong: Chinese University Press.
2. Kunkel, G. (1984) Plants for Human Consumption: An Annotated Checklist of the Edible Phanerogams and Ferns. Koenigstein: Koeltz Scientific Books.
3. Facciola, S. (1998) Cornucopia II: A Source Book of Edible Plants. Vista, CA: Kampong Publications.
4. Sturtevant, E. L. (1972) Sturtevant’s Edible Plants of the World. New York: Dover Publications.
5. Standley, P. C. & Steyermark, J. A. (1949) Flora of Guatemala. Fieldiana. Chicago, Ill.: Chicago Natural History Museum.
6. Liziqi: Riding a Horse to Find Magnolia Liliflora Blossoms