The growing need for nutraceutical new foods has generated interest in edible flowers. This flower traitinspired us to conduct experiments aimed at evaluating both the antioxidant activity and anthocyanincontent in twelve species commonly used as ornamental plants. The antioxidant power of the edibleflowers was very high compared to common vegetables and/or fruits. Except for the low values of Boragoofficinalis (only 0.5 mmol FeSO4100 g−1fresh weight; FW), the antioxidant power in the edible flowersranged from 3.6 for Calendula officinalis to 70.4 for Tagetes erecta. Part of this high antioxidant activity isoften due to their high anthocyanin content at least in the case of the more pigmented flowers (red orblue). For example in the red varieties of Viola × wittrockiana, Dianthus × barbatus, Pelargonium peltatumthe high anthocyanin content (12.4, 13.3, 12.5 mg cyn-3-glu eq. 100 g−1FW, respectively) was associatedto a high antioxidant activity. Indeed the best nutraceutical performances (antioxidant and/or antho-cyanin values) were shown by more pigmented flowers. A panel test was also carried out in order toevaluate the different degree of the flower’s palatability. This taste evaluation showed a high biodiversityof sensory profiles showing the greatest appreciation for Trapaeolum majus, Ageratum houstonianum andViola × wittrockiana. Finally, the overlap between nutraceuticals and organoleptic aspects highlightedpromising species for a potential market targeting new foods aimed at satisfying both taste and health.