Summer Edible Flower Jelly: Capturing Vermont's Warmest Season in a Jar
Green Mountain RoseSummer in Vermont brings an entirely different palette of edible flowers than spring—bolder blooms, deeper colors, and flavors that capture the warmth and abundance of the season. While spring gave us delicate violets and cheerful dandelions, summer offers roses in full bloom, fragrant lavender, and vibrant bee balm.
If you loved making wild flower jelly in spring, summer foraging opens up a whole new world of possibilities. Let's explore the best summer flowers for jelly-making and how to preserve the essence of these sun-soaked days.
Why Summer Flower Jelly is Different
Summer flowers tend to have:
🌺 Stronger flavors – More pronounced floral and herbal notes
🌈 Deeper colors – Rich pinks, purples, and golds
🌿 Aromatic qualities – Fragrant blooms that smell as good as they taste
☀️ Longer harvest window – Many summer flowers bloom for weeks or months
These jellies make incredible gifts and pair beautifully with summer cheese boards, grilled meats, and afternoon tea.
Best Summer Flowers for Jelly Making
🌹 Garden Roses
Flavor: Floral, romantic, slightly sweet
Color: Pink to deep rose
When to Forage: June through September
Best Varieties: Old-fashioned roses, wild roses, rugosa roses
Why We Love It: Rose jelly is elegant, fragrant, and tastes like summer romance. Use petals from unsprayed roses only. The darker the petals, the deeper the color.
Pro Tip: Harvest roses in the morning after dew has dried. Remove the white base of each petal (it's bitter).
💜 Lavender
Flavor: Floral, herbaceous, calming
Color: Pale purple to clear
When to Forage: July through August
Best Varieties: English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
Why We Love It: Lavender jelly is sophisticated and versatile. A little goes a long way—the flavor is strong!
Pro Tip: Use only 1-2 cups of lavender buds for a batch. Too much makes it taste soapy. Harvest just as flowers begin to open.
🔴 Bee Balm (Monarda)
Flavor: Minty, citrusy, slightly spicy
Color: Pink to red
When to Forage: July through August
Best Varieties: Red bee balm, pink bergamot
Why We Love It: Bee balm makes a unique, flavorful jelly with a hint of mint. It's also a pollinator magnet, so you're supporting bees while you forage!
Pro Tip: Use only the petals, not the green parts. The flavor is bold, so it pairs well with savory dishes.
🌻 Sunflower Petals
Flavor: Mild, slightly nutty
Color: Golden yellow
When to Forage: July through September
Best Varieties: Any edible sunflower variety
Why We Love It: Sunflower petal jelly is cheerful and mild, perfect for kids or those new to flower jellies.
Pro Tip: Use only the petals, not the center. You'll need a lot of petals for good color and flavor.
*** ONLY PEDALS- The rest of the plant is TOXIC***
🌼 Chamomile
Flavor: Apple-like, honey-sweet
Color: Pale golden
When to Forage: June through August
Best Varieties: German chamomile, Roman chamomile
Why We Love It: Chamomile jelly is soothing and delicious. It's like capturing the essence of bedtime tea in a jar.
Pro Tip: Harvest flowers when fully open. They dry beautifully if you want to make jelly year-round.
🌸 Daylily Petals
Flavor: Mild, slightly sweet, vegetal
Color: Orange to amber
When to Forage: June through August
Best Varieties: Common orange daylilies (Hemerocallis fulva)
Why We Love It: Daylilies are abundant and make a beautiful amber jelly with a delicate flavor.
Important: Make absolutely sure you have daylilies (Hemerocallis), not true lilies which are toxic. Daylilies bloom for one day and have multiple buds per stalk.
🌿 Linden (Basswood) Flowers
Flavor: Honey-sweet, slightly citrusy
Color: Pale golden
When to Forage: Late June through July
Best Varieties: American linden, littleleaf linden
Why We Love It: Linden flower jelly is a European tradition. The flowers are incredibly fragrant and make a delicate, honey-flavored jelly.
Pro Tip: Harvest when flowers are fully open and fragrant. The window is short—only about 2 weeks!
Summer Flower Jelly Recipe
This recipe works for all the summer flowers listed above. Adjust quantities based on flower strength.
Ingredients:
• 4 cups fresh flower petals (loosely packed, stems removed)
• 4 cups boiling water
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1 package (1.75 oz) powdered pectin
• 5 cups sugar
Note for strong flowers (lavender, bee balm): Use only 1-2 cups petals and increase water to maintain liquid volume.
Instructions:
Step 1: Make Flower Infusion
1. Remove all green parts, stems, and bitter white bases from petals
2. Place petals in heat-safe bowl
3. Pour boiling water over flowers
4. Cover and steep 12-24 hours (longer for mild flowers, shorter for strong ones)
5. Strain through cheesecloth, squeezing well
6. Measure 3 cups of infusion (add water if needed)
Step 2: Cook the Jelly
1. Combine flower infusion, lemon juice, and pectin in large pot
2. Bring to rolling boil, stirring constantly
3. Add all sugar at once
4. Return to hard boil for exactly 1 minute
5. Remove from heat, skim foam
Step 3: Jar and Process
1. Pour into sterilized jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace
2. Wipe rims, seal with lids
3. Process in water bath 10 minutes for shelf stability
4. Or refrigerate and use within 3 weeks
Step 4: Let Set
Allow jars to sit undisturbed for 24 hours. Jelly will firm as it cools.
Creative Summer Jelly Combinations
Rose & Lavender Jelly
3 cups rose petals + 1 cup lavender buds = sophisticated, spa-like flavor
Chamomile Honey Jelly
Replace 1 cup sugar with local honey for a soothing, golden jelly
Bee Balm Mint Jelly
Add fresh mint leaves to bee balm for a refreshing, savory jelly perfect with lamb
Linden Lemon Jelly
Add lemon zest and extra lemon juice for a bright, citrusy twist
Sunset Blend
Combine sunflower petals, daylily petals, and calendula for a gorgeous golden-orange jelly
Summer Foraging Tips
Beat the Heat:
Forage early morning (6-9 AM) before temperatures soar. Flowers are freshest and you'll be more comfortable.
Bring Plenty of Water:
Summer foraging is hot work! Stay hydrated and take breaks in the shade.
Watch for Pollinators:
Summer flowers are buzzing with bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Be respectful and leave plenty for them. Gently shake flowers before harvesting to let insects move on.
Avoid Wilted Blooms:
Summer heat can wilt flowers quickly. Choose only fresh, vibrant blooms. Skip anything that looks tired or brown.
Know Your Garden:
If you're foraging from gardens (with permission!), make sure they're not treated with pesticides. Many ornamental gardens use chemicals.
Using Summer Flower Jelly
Summer flower jellies are more versatile than you might think:
🧀 Cheese Boards – Rose or lavender jelly with brie or goat cheese is divine
🍖 Grilled Meats – Bee balm or mint jelly as a glaze for chicken or lamb
🍞 Toast & Scones – Classic breakfast spread
🍵 Tea Time – Stir into iced tea for natural sweetness
🍰 Desserts – Layer in cakes, fill cookies, or top ice cream
🍾 Cocktails – Mix with champagne or gin for floral drinks
🎁 Gifts – Beautiful jars with handmade labels make perfect hostess gifts
Preserving Summer's Bounty
Summer flower jelly is more than just a preserve—it's a way to capture the season. When you open a jar of rose jelly in January, you're transported back to warm summer days, fragrant gardens, and the abundance of the growing season.
Storage Tips:
• Properly canned jelly keeps 12 months in a cool, dark place
• Once opened, refrigerate and use within 3 weeks
• Label jars with flower type and date
• Store away from direct sunlight to preserve color
Our Summer Jelly Tradition
Here at Green Mountain Rose, summer jelly-making has become a family ritual. The kids help harvest flowers (and inevitably get distracted by butterflies), we spend hot afternoons in the kitchen with windows open and fans running, and we end up with shelves full of jewel-toned jars that remind us of summer all year long.
Each jar tells a story—the morning we found a patch of wild roses, the day the lavender finally bloomed, the afternoon we discovered linden trees in full flower. These aren't just jellies; they're memories preserved.
Safety Reminders for Summer Foraging
Plant Identification:
Be 100% certain of your identification. Use multiple reliable sources. When in doubt, leave it out.
Avoid Treated Areas:
• No roadsides (pollution, runoff)
• No lawns treated with chemicals
• No ornamental gardens unless you know they're organic
• No areas near agricultural fields (pesticide drift)
Sustainable Harvesting:
• Take only 1/3 of available flowers
• Leave plenty for pollinators and seed production
• Harvest from multiple plants, not just one
• Never harvest endangered or protected species
⚠️ Summer Safety: Heat, Hydration & Ticks
Beat the Heat:
• Forage early morning or evening
• Wear light, breathable clothing and a hat
• Bring plenty of water
• Take breaks in shade
• Know signs of heat exhaustion
Tick Prevention:
Ticks are active all summer! After every foraging trip:
• Do a thorough tick check on yourself, kids, and pets
• Wear light colors so ticks are visible
• Tuck pants into socks
• Use insect repellent
• Shower within 2 hours of coming inside
• Throw clothes in dryer on high heat for 10 minutes
Sun Protection:
• Wear sunscreen (reef-safe if near water)
• Reapply every 2 hours
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat
• Seek shade during peak sun (10 AM - 4 PM)
Ready to Capture Summer in a Jar?
Summer offers an incredible variety of edible flowers just waiting to be transformed into beautiful, delicious jelly. Whether you start with easy-to-find roses or venture into foraging wild linden flowers, each batch is an adventure.
Start with one flower, master the technique, then experiment with combinations. There's no wrong way to do this—just delicious discoveries waiting to happen.
If you're interested in using summer flowers in other ways, check out our natural herbal products and DIY guides for more inspiration. We love sharing what we've learned from years of homesteading and foraging in Vermont.
Happy summer foraging and jelly-making! ☀️🌺
What's your favorite summer flower for jelly? Have you tried any unique combinations? Share your experiences in the comments—we'd love to hear what's blooming in your area!
