Varieties
In principle, the rose hips of all roses are edible. However, the fruits of wild roses, or varieties bred for rose hip harvesting, are larger and tastier.
The'Dog Rose'(Rosa canina) is by far the most common wild rose species in Central Europe. It grows on the beaches of Denmark as well as at altitudes of up to 1,200 meters. The flowers are pale pink and open in June and July. The oval, bright red, and large rose hips ripen from August to October.
The'Potato Rose'(Rosa rugosa) originates from East Asia and blooms repeatedly. It has simple white flowers and is extremely robust. Once established, it is almost impossible to remove. It only tolerates very high pH values and turns yellow. The round, red rose hips ripen in the fall.
The'Apple Rose'(Rosa villosa) remains somewhat shorter than the previously mentioned varieties, at one to two meters tall. It is widespread throughout Europe. The flowers are pinkish-red, the rose hips ripen from August onwards and grow very large, although they bear small bristles. The flavor is good and the vitamin content is very high.
The'Pillnitz Vitamin Rose PiRo3'(Rosa dumalis × Rosa pendulina) is a cross between two European-native parents. It grows to just over two meters tall. Since it has few thorns, harvesting is easier. The flowers are pale pink, and the large, oval fruits are brick red.
