Wild Roses

Rose hips are wild rose ovaries containing rose hip seeds. Gardeners do plant these rose seeds, but since rose hips are high in vitamins and antioxidants, they are used more as a natural supplement or herbal remedy.

Identification

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   Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of julie 
   
   
   
   
   Rose hips can grow up to 1 inch in diameter.
   Wild roses come in many varieties, so ripe rose hips vary in color and shape. The most common rose hip is a red, round bulb about 1/2 inch in diameter.
   
   
   

   Health Benefits
   

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   Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Leonardo Aguiar 
   
   
   
   
   Rose hips have more vitamin C than oranges.
   Rose hips are exceptionally high in vitamins C and A, and the minerals iron, calcium and phosphorus. A German and Danish study of osteoarthritis patients showed rose hip powder decreased both osteoarthritis pain and the need for pain medication.
   
   
   

   Rose Hip Seeds

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   Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Cláudia Assad 
   
   
   
   
   Rose hip seed tea is a remedy for urinary tract infections.
   Although some gardeners sow rose hip seeds to grow more plants, rose hip seed tea is a known home remedy for water retention and urinary tract infections.
   
   
   

   Rose Hip Oil

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   Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Gordana Adamovic-Mladenovic 
   
   
   
   
   Rose hip oil comes from pressed rose hip seeds.
   Pressed rose hip seeds make a therapeutic oil that is also used as an aromatherapy carrier oil. The oil has a naturally occurring red color that becomes clear when processed.
   
   
   

   Rose Hip Extract

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   Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Jeremy Keith 
   
   
   
   
   Make rose hip jelly from the extract.
   Rose hip extract is easy to make at home. Simply cover ripened rose hips with water in a saucepan and simmer for 15 minutes, then cool the mixture and strain. The resulting juice makes mildly sweet-tart rose hip jelly or syrup.