Identifying & Using Redbud Flowers - Unruly Gardening

Home » When Does Eastern Redbud Tree Bloom » Identifying & Using Redbud Flowers - Unruly Gardening

Maybe your like

How to Use and Eat Redbud Flowers

Redbud flowers are high in vitamin C (source) – both the buds and opened flowers can be eaten raw. Buds are often pickled and used like capers, while the opened flowers can be turned into delicious foods, such as those listed below.

You can sprinkle redbud flowers on a salad (or other foods, such as cookies, tarts, or cakes),

bowl of spring salad topped with fresh violet and redbud flowers
Top spring salads with edible flowers such as redbuds and violets.

turn them into jelly,

hand holding a jar of ruby colored redbud jelly
Redbud jelly is a beautiful jewel-toned color and tastes lightly floral with a bitty hint of strawberry-grape.

naturally pink lemonade,

Image of a glass of faintly pink lemonade with ice floating near the top. Inside the glass, a few pink flowers can be seen. At the base of the glass, there are some scattered redbud flowers.
Use redbud flowers to make a naturally pink lemonade!

or infuse them into vinegar for making vinaigrette and other culinary uses.

jar of redbud infused vinegar with chickweed, clover, and fresh redbud flowers
Redbud infused vinegar has a pleasingly tart and tangy taste. Use it to make vinaigrettes, marinades, or in place of balsamic vinegar in recipes.

To make redbud infused vinegar:

Fill a small half-pint jar with around 1/3 cup redbud flowers. Pour vinegar (about 2/3 cup) into the jar until it’s almost filled.

White wine vinegar or champagne wine vinegar are excellent choices for culinary use.

At first, it will look like the vinegar isn’t doing anything, but after several days, you’ll see the vinegar start turning an increasing pink color. (You could also first gently heat the vinegar and pour over the redbuds while it’s still hot, to jump start the infusion.)

Let the vinegar infuse for around 1 week, or until it’s a bright pretty color.

Strain and refrigerate your vinegar for 4 to 6 months.

Redbud vinegar has a pleasing tangy and tart taste, thanks to the high vitamin C content in redbud flowers. Use it in your favorite vinaigrette or marinade recipes similar to using balsamic or fruit infused vinegars.

Tag » When Does Eastern Redbud Tree Bloom