You may have heard the term used before in cookbooks or on the package of skincare products, but what are rose hips?
Rose hips are fruits that grow from rose plants and are a true gift from nature. Whether enjoyed as a fragrant tea, incorporated into recipes, or utilized in skincare routines, these fruits have a lot to be desired.
In this article, we’ll learn all about what rose hips are, and how they can benefit your daily life.
What Are Rose Hips?
Rose hips are an accessory fruit that develops from various varieties of roses.
They develop after the rose flower has been pollinated and its petals have completely wilted.
A rose hip contains the seed pod used to propagate more roses.
It is abundant in both antioxidants and vitamin C.
How To Identify Rose Hips
Rose hips are identifiable as the round, vibrant fruits that develop on a rose plant after their flowers have wilted completely.
They spend the last 4 to 8 weeks of the growing season developing and becoming fully formed by the late summer to fall.
Rose hips come in a variety of eye-catching colors that contrast with the green foliage of the rose plant.
These colors typically range from red, orange, and purple depending on the plant.
Can You Get Rose Hips From Any Rose?
Yes, all rose plants can produce rose hips.
In many cases, we do not see them develop because of deadheading.
Many gardeners deadhead roses throughout the season because they help yield a higher amount of flowers.
Rose hips only develop when a pollinated rose is left to completely whither on the plant.
After all petals have wilted, the rose hip begins to develop where the flower once stood.
Berries That Look Like A Rose Hip
Rose hips bear a strong resemblance to crab apples, which happen to belong to the same family as the rose plant, Rosaceae.
Additionally, crab apples do have a similar tartness that many rose hips also have.
However, crab apple trees look very different from rose plants.
If you were foraging for rose hips, it would be very apparent if you have stumbled upon a crab tree versus a rose bush.
Another member of the Rosaceae family, the hawthorn berry, also resembles rose hips.
Hawthorn berries grow abundantly on shrubs and have the same vibrant hue and round, smooth shape that rose hips do.
Poisonous Wild Rose Hips
There are no poisonous rose hips.
However, the interior of rose hips does have small hairs on them that can be very unpleasant to eat and digest.
The hairs in rose hips have been used to make itching powder.
For this reason, consuming rose hip hairs can cause a similar effect on the mouth and digestive tract, which can cause some temporary discomfort.
The Benefits Of Rose Hips
Rose hips have been used as a medicinal supplement for many years due to their high content of vitamin C and antioxidants.
Some of the benefits of rose hips include:
- Pain relief
- Anti-inflammatory
- Boost the immune system
- Lower blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure.
Who Should Not Take Rose Hip?
Generally, rose hip can be taken as a beneficial supplement, but there are some notable exceptions to this.
You may not be able to take rose hip if you are:
- Pregnant or breastfeeding
- Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency
- Hemochromatosis
- Sickle cell disease
- Sideroblastic anemia
- Thalassemia
- Taking any blood thinning medications
We strongly advise speaking with a physician prior to adding any type of herbal supplement to your daily lifestyle.
The Side Effects Of Rose Hips
Rose hip supplements are generally safe to consume by mouth when it is used as directed.
However, there are some side effects associated with taking high amounts of rose hip.
These side effects include:
- Digestive distress, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
- Fatigue and headache
- Heartburn
- Difficulty sleeping
- Very high doses can increase your risk of kidney stones and blood clots
Some of these side effects can be exacerbated if you have a pre-existing condition.
We cannot stress enough the importance of speaking with your physician before adding an herbal supplement to your wellness routine.
Due to their high vitamin C content, rose hips are not suitable for those taking certain medications, including blood thinners, lithium, estrogen, or antipsychotics.
What To Do With Rose Hips
1. You Can Eat Them
Rose hips are an underrated ingredient in many sweet and savory dishes, as well as beverages.
Before consuming rose hips, however, they must be properly cleaned and prepared.
As we’ve discussed before, the rose hips contain a small pouch of seeds that can cause irritation when they are consumed.
To avoid this, you will have to open and scoop the seeds from the fruit.
Here are some tips to prep your rose hips:
- Rinse your rose hips under water to clean off any dirt or debris from the outside. Dry the rose hips fully with a paper towel.
- Using a small paring knife, trim off the stem and blossom ends from the fruit.
- Take a small spoon and scoop out the seeds.
- Rinse off the rose hips once last time in a colander to wash off any residual seeds.
2. You Can Grow Roses
The seeds from a rose plant are stored in the rose hips, which can be harvested and used to grow more rose plants.
Growing roses from seeds is a long and lengthy process that requires much dedication and patience from the gardener.
On average, it can take years for a rose seed to become a full plant that produces flowers.
Related post:
How To Grow Roses From Seeds In 6 Steps
3. You Can Make Tea
Both dried and fresh rose hips can be brewed to make a delicious tea.
High in antioxidants and vitamin C, this tea can prove to be very beneficial to one’s health.
Drinking rose hip tea is said to have anti-inflammatory benefits as well as aiding in lowering blood sugar, strengthening the immune system, and aiding in weight loss.
Due to its vitamin C content, certain individuals should refrain from consuming rose hip tea until they speak about it with a medical professional.
Vitamin C has been known to adversely affect the efficacy of certain medications.
How To Eat Rose Hips
What Do Rose Hips Taste Like?
Rose hips have a unique flavor that can vary depending on the specific rose variety and ripeness.
Generally, they have a tangy yet sweet flavor, reminiscent of citrus and berries.
Some also report rose hips having a slight rose flavor as well. The more ripe the rose hip is, the sweeter the fruit.
The Best Way To Consume Rose Hips
The flavor of rose hips is enhanced when they are cooked or steeped in tea.
Rose hips are very commonly stewed to make rose hip syrup, jam, and jelly.
You can use this as a topping for ice cream, cakes, or spread it onto toast.
Rose hip tea can be brewed by boiling either fresh or dried rose hips in water.
You may choose to drink rose hip tea on its own, or experiment by combining other common tea flavors to create a truly delectable concoction.
Some companions for rose hip tea include hibiscus leaves, lavender, or chamomile.
There’s no one “best” way to consume rose hips, either way, you’re in for a very delicious treat!
Can Rose Hips Be Eaten Raw?
Yes, rose hips can be eaten raw.
As we have discussed previously, rose hips are not a poisonous fruit, but the hairs inside of the fruit can cause a bit of digestive discomfort and care should be taken in order to properly prepare the fruit.
Furthermore, it is important to eat rose hips when they are ripe for the best flavor.
Green rose hips are not harmful, but they lack the tasty pulp that makes ripe rose hips so delectable.
Can You Eat Rose Hips From Any Rose?
For the most part yes.
There is no such thing as a poisonous rose hip, so in theory, all rose hips can be consumed.
However, some rose hip varieties are downright unpleasant to eat, whether it be taste or texture.
If you are looking to raise rose varieties for the purpose of harvesting their rose hips, then the rugosa rose is said to have the best-tasting and most abundant fruit.
Additionally, we suggest exercising discretion when consuming foraged rose hips.
Do not eat any rose hips that came from a plant that was treated with any non-food-safe pesticides.
If you are unsure, it is best to avoid harvesting rose hips from unfamiliar rose plants.
Conclusion
From their impressive health benefits to their wide range of culinary and skincare uses, rose hips have a long and rich history of aiding with vitality and wellness.
Whether you are foraging for wild rose hips, growing them yourself, or you’re browsing the skincare aisle, adding rose hips to your lifestyle will not disappoint.
