Rose hips are the seed pods of a rose plant or the ‘fruit’. They are loaded with seeds and resemble very small cherries or tiny crab apple. Very few roses produce rose hips due to modern gardening.
The small seed pods are usually red, reddish orange and loaded with vitamin C. They are perennial plants perfect for gardens, hedges and decoration. The good aspect is that the roses flower all summer.
Hardy Rose Varieties
It is important choosing the right rose to produce rosehips. Generally roses with packed petals should be avoided.
The best choice is the Rugosa, however there are others to consider. Hardy rose verities that produce rose hips are Sweet briar rose, Moyes rose, Chestnut rose and Rugosa rose.
Roses that Produce Rose Hips
- Rugosa
- Sweet briar rose
- Moyes rose
- Chestnut rose
How to Grow Rosehips
The first step is to buy the cuttings or seedlings of a hardy rose from a nursery. Then prepare a pot and add a little organic material to regular soil. Plant each rose bush in a large container or pot at least 8 gallons in size.
To plant, dig a hole that will accommodate the roots of the plant of the same dimension as the original substrate. Make sure the container is well-drained, fertile, good soil, adequate sun and proper air circulation.
The space should accommodate a prickly bush shrub of at least 4.8 feet. Rugosa bears prickly spines and very dense shrubs. They are extremely hardy, grow easily in the wild in different soil compositions.
Go easy on the fertilizer and water regularly until the roots are established. Then ease off and add water only when the soil is dry. Make sure chemicals and pesticides are kept far from the plants.
At the onset of autumn avoid deadheading the roses. If you want to produce rose hip don’t cut the full bloom roses let them die on the shrub. This well signal the plant to produce ‘fruits’.
Harvesting is done in winter after the first frost when the rose hips are soft. Make sure you use safety gloves to avoid sharp thorns. Deep red rose hips are overripe, orange unripe, reddish-orange perfect.
Steps to Grow Rose Hips
- Buy the cuttings or seedlings from a nursery
- Prepare an 8 gallon container
- Use regular soil
- dig a hole to accommodate the roots
- Make sure the container is well-drained
- It needs adequate sun
- Proper air circulation
- space should accommodate a 5 feet bush
- water as appropriate
- avoid chemicals or pesticide
- Avoid deadheading the roses
- Harvesting the rose hips when soft.
Uses
Rose is a perfect ornament plant for your greenhouse or garden. Rose hips are used in many products because of their sweet tart taste. Rich in vitamin C, carotenoids, lycopene, lutein.
They are commonly used in herbal teas, jelly and jam. They are made into syrup, beverages, marmalade and wine. Rose hip is used in ‘Palinka’ a Hungarian fruit brandy and soup.
Uses of Rose Hip
- Herbal teas
- Jelly
- Jam
- Syrup
- Beverages
- Marmalade
- Wine
- Fruit brandy
- Soup
Medical Applications
The rose hip is dried and seeds used to make medicine. Medicinal applications include prevention of stomach irritation, ulcers. Others are reduction in urinary tract, kidney disorders.
It is used to treat gallbladder ailments, fluid retention, gout, leg pain, high cholesterol. It is said to increase blood flow in limbs, reduce chest ailments and used for diarrhea.
Medical uses of Rose Hip
- Prevention of stomach irritation
- Ulcers
- Reduction in urinary tract
- Kidney disorders
- Used to treat gallbladder ailments
- Fluid retention
- Gout
- Leg pain
- Reduce high cholesterol
- Increase blood flow in limbs
- Reduce chest ailments
- Used to treat diarrhea
Pests and Diseases
Common pests are small birds, Japanese and June beetles. They suffer from fungal attacks, root rot and stem issues.
