while others are crumbling

No, not peaches. But not death either. Still, tasting the petal will not be a pleasant experience. It will feel like hot ash upon the ascended's tongue despite his inability to taste or feel heat anymore. Like the grime from old pennies and cobwebs, Neron's immediate reaction will be to—you guessed it—gag (as there's nothing in him to vomit up). Dry heaving into the snow, Neron's vision will be blurred for several hours. Past that, there won't seem to be any lingering side effects.