Botanical Name: Rosa canina

Common Name:

English: Rose Hips
Also, known as: Eglantine, Weisse Rose, Rosa Bianca, Rosa Blanca, Brier Hip, Dog Brier Fruit, Dog Rose Fruit, Hipberries, Witches Brier, Hip Tree, Hip Fruit, Hop Fruit, Hogseed, Sweet Brier, Wild Brier, Witches Brier, Dog Rose, Dagger Rose, Haggebutt, Wild Rose

Origin: Ukraine

Harvested: Cultivated

Parts Used: Fruit

General Information:

Rosa canina is a shrub introduced from Eurasia. It grows up to 9 feet tall and has multiple arching stems. Stems are covered with thorns that are stout, flattened, downward-curving and unequal in size. Leaves are alternate and pinnately divided into 5 to 7 leaflets with serrated margins. Both sides of the leaves are glandless and smooth. The relatively large flowers, 2-5 cm across are borne in small clusters at the tips of the branches. They have five pale pink to bright pink petals, sometimes white, numerous stamens, and five backwards curving (i.e. reflexed) sepals that are variously toothed or lobed. These flowers are borne on stalks that are hairless and not prickly. Flowers are solitary or in small clusters at the ends of branches. Flowers have five white to pink petals 0.8 to 1 inch long, five sepals, usually 10 or more pistils, and multiple stamens. Sepals are glandless, often have slender lateral lobes, curve backward at the time of anthesis and are deciduous. The fruit is an oval or rounded fleshy capsule, known as a hip that turns from green to orange or scarlet red in color as it matures. Fruits are a delicious wild edible, hairless, smooth, bright red, 0.6 to 0.8 inches long and contain numerous seeds. The seeds are yellowish in color, irregularly shaped, and 4-6 mm long.

Rosa canina pseudo fruits, often referred to as rose hips, have been used as herbal medicine for more than 2,000 years. They are nutritive and tart, and can be infused into a tea that is high in many vitamins, especially Vitamins A and C. Even though citrus fruits get all the glory for being a great source of Vitamin C, rosehips actually contain a higher concentration of this important vitamin and are in fact one of the richest botanical sources of it. Fruits persist on the plant for several months and become black.

How to use:

Decoctions are suitable for roots, barks, large seeds & berries, and other dense material. The simple way to make decoction is, in a saucepan, add 1 tablespoon of dried herbs to 1 cup of water. Bring the water to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30-60 minutes. Strain and squeeze out as much as liquid as possible and enjoy!

Tips:

You can sweeten your herbal decoctions with a bit of honey, natural fruit juice, stevia leaves powder and or licorice root powder.

Precautions:

You should consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.

All information on this website is for educational purposes ONLY.

This information has not been evaluated by Health Canada.

This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Rosehips Whole