Durian Flowers

They grow in clusters of 1 to 45 flowers directly from the trunk or main branch. The large flowers are creamy white to golden-brown in color. The outer part of the flower is fleshy and has 5 fused sepals and 5 petals. Long stamens hang down from the center of the petals. This flower caught by my camera is at its best at 2 p.m.


In my search for edible flowers I am delighted that my own durian tree is flowering this month!!

I had seen the small buds but did not realise that they will bloom so gloriously!! And then like a disappointed lover the flowers dropped the next day. Such a short life of beauty!


What are the mechanics of getting the durian flowers to become the glorious king of all fruits then?

I never knew that the flowers have a strong odour which will attract the small dawn bat!The flowers have a strong odor which attracts its principle pollinator, a small bat called a Dawn Bat (Eonycteris spelea). The flowers are hermaphrodites, meaning they have a stamen and a pistil in the same flower. However, the flowers can't pollinate themselves because the stamens and pistils from the same tree come out at different times. The flowers are nocturnal bloomers and open from around 3 pm to midnight. The pistils with its female stigma come out first and get pollinated
by flowers fromother trees. By the time the anthers of the stamen emerge, the pistils on the same tree are no longer active. By midnight all the flower parts except the pistil fall to the ground.
(http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org)

How do we cook the flowers?

It can be eaten raw as a salad with some sambal belacan. When eaten raw, the whole flower can be eaten - the petals, stamen, pistil and sepal. The sepal is sweet with a tinge of bitterness.

The flowers are delicious stir-fried with prawns, calamari, or shell fish , with chicken pieces, with tofu. When stir-frying, use only the petals, stamen and pistil. Do not use the sepal which turns acrid when heated.



Simple Yet Delicious

Quickly immersed flowers in boiling water, remove and drain. When cool, serve with sambal belacan.

Stir-fried with Calamari - spicy

Blend onions, garlic and fresh red chillies. Stir-fry in some oil until fragrant. Add prawns or calamari, salt and some sugar to taste. If desired some belacan can be added. Add flowers for a few quick stirs, and serve. Yummy.

Stir-fried with Prawns : Chop onions and garlic. Stir-fry until fragrant. Add prawns, salt and sugar. Add flowers, stir fry quickly, serve. For those preferring a bit of spiciness, add chopped chilli padi as garnish.


You can also prepare a dish called stir-fried asparagus with prawns, oyster sauce and of course, durian flowers.