Herb. No. 069 · Rosaceae
Dog rose of European and West Asian hedges.
Native · Europe · West Asia
Native Also grown
OpenGentleplant
Dog rose
Rosa canina
The hedgerow rose — hips for winter vitamin C, petals for a cooling, fragrant cup.
Dog rose is the classic European hip. Once the frost softens them they make a tart, seedy syrup. Petals of fragrant, unsprayed roses are a cooling traditional cordial. Always strain hip hairs — they itch the gut.
Flavor
Hips are tart apple-tomato; petals are perfume and green tea, faintly honeyed.
Parts used
Ripe hip · Unsprayed petal
In favor
- Beautiful hedge
- Food and medicine in one
Against
- Itchy hip hairs if unstrained
- Sprayed florist roses are not tea