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Today we’re going to talk about rose hips. My days are a whirlwind of discovering new herbs to grow, foraging adventures, plus the usual parenting and household duties. There is SO MUCH TO SHARE. I have 50 article drafts in progress, no lie. This article has been sitting for 2 months because I forgot about it. Oops. I have A.D.D so that’s just going to have to be how we roll here. If you’re looking for a place to buy rose hips or more in depth reading, skip to the end of this article for resources. Also, is it a rosehip or rose hip?
What Are Rose Hips?
Have you ever seen rose hips outside? If you’re someone like me who has never actually grown roses, these have been somewhat of a mystery to me. If you grow roses already then you are in luck. For the longest time before I ever embarked on this herbalism journey, I thought these pretty red, fat, berry-like things on the beach were beach plums. Not even close. Well, in a way they might be. Rosehips are the fruit of a rose bush. Rose hips develop from a bloom similarly to how an apple or berry will grow from a blossom, although they are considered a pseudofruit and not technically from the ovary. They usually start off green and continue to ripen throughout the season, turning orange, bright red, and then finally an even deeper, dark red. I’m not sure if every variety produces hips but most do. Multiflora rose, the tiny little white wild roses also produce tiny little rosehips that can easily be confused as some sort of berry and passed over without a thought. Thorny branches are one clue though.
What Are the Benefits of Rose Hips?
Rose hips are loaded with vitamin C. Way more than any orange can provide. Rose hips are one of the top plant sources of vitamin C, and it’s more bio available than a supplement meaning your body can absorb and use it more efficiently. Vitamin C is vital to the immune system. You will want to work these into your routine during cold and flu season. They are generally also a safe and gentle choice for children.
Rose hip oil has anti inflammatory properties and is supposed to be helpful with acne scarring and wrinkles. I just bought some recently so I’ll have to report back later on that.
What to do with Rose Hips?
Here is a short list of what you can do with these weird little fruits. You can make teas, tincture, syrup, jelly, jam, wine, and more. You can also dry them for later use and store in a jar. Basically what you would do with any other fruit that isn’t great for eating on it’s own raw.
You can’t just straight up eat them because they have big seeds and irritating hairs on the inside. I personally have only used them for syrup, tea, and other medicinal concoctions. See my Homemade Rose Syrup Recipe post for basic instructions on making an herbal honey syrup. You could also easily substitute rose hips in my Elderberry Syrup recipe. I pop them in the blender with twice as much water, simmer on the stove, strain and reserve liquid, add mash back to the pot with more water, and simmer again to extract as much as possible. Combine with the previous liquid and reduce by half. Then with that extraction I will make syrup by adding equal parts honey. You can add other herbs and flavorings but that is the basic gist.
Homemade popsicles are a big hit with my little guy. I mix half juice, half rosehips infusion into a popsicle mold. That’s it. The sourness goes well with orange juice. If you have a picky kid or your are the picky adult that hates taking vitamins, this works really well.
If you’re into jam this blog The Spruce Eats has a simple recipe that looks great to me. I have never made jam so don’t look at me for advice on that.
Where to Find Rose Hips
You can find them on cultivated rose varieties people grow in their yards, or wild species. Rugosa, wild beach rose, has some of the plumpest rosehips you will ever see. Next time you go beach combing, check for wild roses along the banks. Think about where you may have seen roses in the spring and summertime, and go back to those spots. I’m somewhat obsessive about foraging wild rose petals so I have plenty of spots I remember to go back to.
Rosehips are generally ripe late summer through fall. Some people prefer to pick them after frost when they are the ripest. This really depends on personal preference and what you want to use them for. You can still find them in the winter time. For jams and sweets you will probably want to harvest them as late as possible. If using for tea and/or medicinal purposes it is fine to pick them earlier. I just personally set out for some recently (it’s September) and found plenty ranging from orange and firm, to dark, wrinkled, and mushy. I started looking early and noticed a lot were rotting right on the branch. I’m not sure if this is typical or just had to do with the weather we’ve had. Just make sure the plants are not treated with herbicides or pesticides. If all else fails you can always purchase them. Locally a health food store might have them or you can order online. See my list of reputable sources below.
Shop for Dried Rose Hips and Plants
Herbalism Reading
- Native American Herbalism for Families: Rapidly Develop an Herbal Intuition with 100 Western Medicinal Plants and 70+ Home Remedies
- Raised Naturally: A Parent’s Guide to Herbal Medicine From Newborn to Adolescence Step by Step
- Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine: 550 Herbs and Remedies for Common Ailments
- Herbalism for beginners: A practical guide on how to improve your health by using inexpensive, accessible herbs
- Northeast Medicinal Plants: Identify, Harvest, and Use 111 Wild Herbs for Health and Wellness
Every time I use my rose hip conditioner, Boyfriend says I smell good… maybe it’s cause he needs more vitamin c!!! He loves grapefruit and cuties, too!
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