Rosa rugosa

It is a suckering shrub which develops new plants from the roots and forms dense thickets 1–1.50 m tall with stems densely covered in numerous short, straight thorns 3–10 mm long. The leaves are 8–15 cm long, pinnate with 5–9 leaflets, most often 7, each leaflet 3–4 cm long, with a distinctly corrugated (rugose, hence the species' name) surface. The flowers are pleasantly scented, dark pink to white, 6–9 cm across, with somewhat wrinkled petals; flowering is from summer to autumn (June to September in the northern hemisphere).
The hips are large, 2–3 cm diameter, and often shorter than their diameter, not elongated like most other rose hips; in late summer and early autumn the plants often bear fruit and flowers at the same time. The leaves typically turn bright yellow before falling in autumn.

 Cultivation and uses

Rugosa rose is widely used as an ornamental plant. It has been introduced to numerous areas of Europe and North America. It has many common names, several of which refer to the fruit's resemblance to a tomato, including beach tomato or sea tomato; saltspray rose and beach rose are others.
The sweetly scented flowers are used to make pot-pourri in Japan and China, where it has been cultivated for about a thousand years.
This species hybridises readily with many other roses, and is valued by rose breeders for its considerable resistance to the diseases rose rust and rose black spot. It is also extremely tolerant of seaside salt spray and storms, commonly being the first shrub in from the coast. It is widely used in landscaping, being relatively tough and trouble-free. Needing little maintenance, it is suitable for planting in large numbers; its salt-tolerance makes it useful for planting beside roads which need deicing with salt regularly.
Numerous cultivars have been selected for garden use, with flower colour varying from white to dark red-purple, and with semi-double to double flowers where some or all of the stamens are replaced by extra petals. Popular examples include 'Fru Dagmar Hastrup' (pink, single), 'Pink Grootendorst' (pink, semi-double), 'Blanc Double du Coubert' (white, double) and the more common 'Roseraie de L’Haÿ' (pink, double), which is often used for its very successful rootstock and its ornamental rose hips.

Gallery

Single pink rugosa rose, similar to the wild type

Single white rugosa rose

Rugosa rose hips resemble tomatoes

A double-flowered cultivar

Rosa rugosa

It is a suckering shrub which develops new plants from the roots and forms dense thickets 1–1.50 m tall with stems densely covered in numerous short, straight thorns 3–10 mm long. The leaves are 8–15 cm long, pinnate with 5–9 leaflets, most often 7, each leaflet 3–4 cm long, with a distinctly corrugated (rugose, hence the species' name) surface. The flowers are pleasantly scented, dark pink to white, 6–9 cm across, with somewhat wrinkled petals; flowering is from summer to autumn (June to September in the northern hemisphere).
The hips are large, 2–3 cm diameter, and often shorter than their diameter, not elongated like most other rose hips; in late summer and early autumn the plants often bear fruit and flowers at the same time. The leaves typically turn bright yellow before falling in autumn.

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.