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To Rose Hip or Not Rose Hip...?

steveTusteveTu Posts: 3,219
in The potting shed
We have a 'dog rose' (or at least that is what I think it is!) and I religiously, as with other roses, deadhead it. But should I? Presumably deadheading normally encourages additional flowering doesn't it? I know this is an aesthetic question really, but what are the benefits either way - the 'bigger' reddening hips look attractive in their own right. So what do I actually gain in lopping them 'orf?
UK - South Coast Retirement Campus (East)
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  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    Nothing unless you are a neatness freak and can't bear a few brown petals.
    You miss out on colourful autumn hips, free bird food and/or rosehip syrup. Plus the birds always give you some more rosebushes as a sign of thanks :)
  • steveTusteveTu Posts: 3,219
    ...and I used to make rumtopfs and I just read that you can flavour rum (spirit) with them....
    '.....Rose hips can be infused to flavour spirits, such as vodka and gin, and they go particularly well with darker spirits like brandy, whisk(e)y and rum. To make an infusion, half-fill a preserving jar with whole, washed, wild rose hips. Top up with spirit, seal and leave to infuse for four months to a year......'


    UK - South Coast Retirement Campus (East)
  • islandanchoressislandanchoress Posts: 238
    I was out early this morning, reaping rose hips from the hedging. Not as plentiful this year as we had serious weather that destroyed some blossom, but more than enough for my usual rose hip syrup. They look quite lovely and there are always many I cannot reach that are left for the birds.  
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    If they’re a type of rose that repeat flowers then deadheading will encourage that ... but Rosa canina (the wild species traditionally known in the UK as the Dog Rose) does not repeat flower or have
    a second flush and deadheading will not change that, so all you’re doing is removing the beautiful and useful hips. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • steveTusteveTu Posts: 3,219
    I thought it was a dog rose as opposed to a 'normal' rose, but after posting here  I now think it's a rosa rugosa.

    UK - South Coast Retirement Campus (East)
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    The rugosa roses also make beautiful hips. I don't know if they are good for syrup, I like them on the plant.
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    I've got a big rugosa alba with a bit of the pink suckering fromthe base. I'm happy to leave the pink as it produces MUCH bigger , and more plentiful hips.
    Devon.
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    edited August 2020
    You can dead head a Rugosa to promote further flowering, but desist from this from mid-summer onward so that the remaining blooms leave hips. If you want to tidy things up, just encourage the dying petals to fall off with a light tug - that won't affect hip formation.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • steveTusteveTu Posts: 3,219
    ...this is a rugosa isn't it......?

    UK - South Coast Retirement Campus (East)
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Looks a lot like it 😊 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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