The present study was conducted on the natural ornamental flora of southern Côte d'Ivoire in order to search for ornamental plants for food use in this spontaneous decorative flora in order to enhance them and allow their sustainable management. The itinerant inventory method was used in the four phytogeographical sectors of southern Côte d'Ivoire (coastal, umbrophilic, mesophilic and mountain sectors) and a survey was carried out among peasants in these localities. A total of 124 species with ornamental potential, grouped into 93 genera belonging to 48 families, have been inventoried. The flower with 41.09% is the essential beauty criterion that allowed them to be characterized. The survey conducted with 120 people, mostly men (70.85%), highlights four main areas of use (medicinal, food, cosmetics, housing). In the field of food, 11 decorative species are consumed by the population and seeds are the most used with 54.54%. Several recipes are proposed depending on the nutritional value of these plants, their appearance, flavor and fragrance. Organs are eaten raw such as the fruits of Napoleonaea vogelii (Lecythidaceae), others cooked such as the leaves and seeds of Telfairia occidentalis (Cucurbitaceae). Some plants produce sap used as a drink; this is the case of “Vin de Rônier” extracted from the stem of Borassus akeassii (Arecaceae).: This know-how based on decorative spontaneous plants for food use, deserves to be valued to contribute to the food security of populations and allow sustainable management of these species. Words