Throughout history and across cultures, roses have been renowned for their spectacular, multicolored blooms and strong, enchanting scents. Available in hundreds of varieties and hues, rose plants lend their beauty and fragrance to gardens all over the world. In addition to impressive flowers and lush foliage, however, rose plants also feature hips, which may be less glamorous than the showy blooms, but are no less relevant.
Definition
Rose hips are the small, round fruits of rose plants. They appear in a variety of colors, including red, orange, deep purple and black. Rose hips develop on rose plants in the springtime. They continue to ripen throughout the summer and fall.
Botanical Function
Rose hips contain the seeds of rose plants; they are necessary for the reproduction of rose plants, which may be propagated by removing the small seeds from rose hips and sowing them just beneath the surface of the soil. In sufficiently warm conditions, they germinate in about three months.
Other Uses
Rose hips are used to make an assortment of edible and drinkable products, including herbal tea, wine, pie and jam. Products made from rose hips are noted for their high vitamin C content. Some people feed rose hips to their pets, including chinchillas, which are unable to produce adequate vitamin C, and horses, whose coats and hooves improve with the consumption of rose hips. The fine hairs inside of rose hips have been used to make itching powder. Rose hips are dried and used to make assorted crafts, or scented with essential oils and used as potpourri.
Nutritional Benefits
Rose hips are noted for their especially high vitamin C content. Every 100 mg of dried rose hips contains between 1,700 to 2,000 mg of vitamin C; this makes it one of the richest plant sources of this vitamin. Rose hips also contain vitamins A and B, along with essential fatty acids, which are associated with heart health, and antioxidant flavonoids, which prevent the oxidation of cells that can lead to cancer and other ailments.
Harvesting and Storage
Pick rose hips when they are thoroughly ripened. Ripe rose hips are deep in color, and soft to the touch without being mushy. Spread the harvested hips out on a flat surface where they can dry. Before they are completely dry, when the skins of the rose hips begin to shrivel, cut open the rose hips and scrape out the seeds. Allow the rose hips to dry completely, and store them in plastic sealed bags. They will remain fresh for several months in the refrigerator, and indefinitely in the freezer.
Making Rose Hip Tea
Making rose hip tea is simple. Just add boiling water to dried rose hips. You can place the rose hips in a tea infuser or tea bag to prevent them from floating loose in the water.
References
- "Willow Bark and Rosehips: An Introduction to Common Edible and Useful Wild Plants of North America"; Fritz Springmeyer; 1996
- Old Fashioned Living: Storing and Using Rose Hips
- "The Ultimate Rose Book: New Expanded Edition"; Stirling Macoboy; 2007
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