Several varieties of rose bushes produce hips large enough to use in herbal preparations. The “hips” are the seeded fruits of the rose bush. These bright red hips appear in the autumn, after roses finish flowering. For the best rose hip harvest, Herb Companion magazine recommends Rosa rugosa, or R. rubiginosa, also known as sweetbriar rose. Drugs.com notes that the dog rose, Rosa canina, is often used in commercial rose hip production.
Benefits
Rose hips contain up to 20 times more vitamin C than a similar serving of oranges, making them useful for people who dislike citrus fruits or don’t have access to other sources of the nutrient. Consuming adequate amounts of vitamin C may lower your risk of heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure and other serious illnesses, as well as fight off the common cold, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. No side effects or contraindications for rose hips exist, but always check with your doctor before attempting any herbal self-treatment.
Uses
The most common uses for rose hips include in dried form for teas and soups, and cooked form for jams, jellies and syrups. The fruits also appear in recipes for pies and baked goods. Cosmetically, rose hip seed oil is useful for skin conditions and healing wounds, as well as general beauty preparations. While the average gardener can’t harvest and process enough rose hip seeds to make her own oil, Herb Companion magazine recommends replacing plain water with rose hip tea when making a homemade face mask.
Growing and Harvesting
The kinds of roses that produce showy rose hips tend to be among the hardiest, and least prone to pests and disease. Do not use pesticides on rose bushes you plan to raise for food or medicine. Avoid deadheading the roses once their flowers die; pruning prevents rose hip production. Look for the hips in the fall, after the first light frost. If you plant to gather the hips from the wild, obtain permission to harvest the rose bushes from the property owner. Wear long-sleeve shirts and gloves to avoid scratches from the bushes’ thorns.
Herbs Similar to Rose Hips
Pine needles and pine bark represent another wild source of vitamin C. Cranberries are similar to rose hips in color and tartness, and are also rich in vitamin C. In terms of their traditional use as a treatment for diarrhea, Herb Companion groups rose hips with licorice. The University of Maryland Medical Center lists blackberry leaf, raspberry leaf and agrimony as other diarrhea-treatment herbs.
Companion Herbs for Roses
Plant garlic or chives near rose bushes to deter aphids; some gardeners also say these herbs make the petals smell sweeter and produce a better yield of rose hips. Mint plants also deter aphids.
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