Bloom the following roses for rosehips production

In the enchanting gardens of the United Kingdom, rosehips—the vibrant, nutritious fruits of the rose—add a splash of colour and a bounty of benefits from as early as April through to November.

The rose hip, derived from the Anglo-Saxon word hiope, is considered a false fruit, yet it plays a crucial role in the life cycle of the rose. Botanically, it is a collection of ovaries and accessory organs that surround the rose's true fruit—small, dry, hard seeds called achenes. It is these achenes that are dispersed in the droppings of squirrels and birds, ensuring the rose's seeds are scattered far and wide.

Rosehips come in various shapes and sizes, with the best being produced by species roses, shrub roses, and ramblers. For example, Rosa moyesii bears elegant, red, flask-shaped hips, while Rosa virginiana offers scarlet, slightly flattened hips that color early and persist into spring. Rosa canina, our native dog rose, produces ovoid, red fruits, and is renowned for its exquisite fragrant flowers.

Rugosa roses (Rosa rugosa) and other wild or old garden rose varieties are ideal for cultivating rosehips due to their large, nutrient-rich hips that are perfect for harvesting. One such recommendation is Rosa 'Fritz Nobis', which produces blush-pink double flowers and an abundance of orange, balloon-shaped hips in late autumn.

When it comes to pruning rosehip roses, the basic principles of removing dead, diseased, weak, and crossing growth apply. All of the remaining shoots should be shortened by about a third. However, it is essential to wait until January, or until the rosehips have naturally withered, before pruning to ensure the roses have ample time to produce the following year's crop.

Hip-bearing roses provide a nutritious food source for wildlife, with some rosehips persisting into winter. In favourable conditions, at least a few new rose seedlings will emerge the following spring.

Most garden roses prefer heavy soil with the addition of well-rotted manure or garden compost. Round or oval rosehips form on the pollinated roses in late summer and autumn, providing a colourful and nourishing addition to the garden.

One standout hip-bearing rose is Rosa 'Penelope', a hybrid musk rose with a long, repeat-flowering season, healthy, scented foliage, and great hips. Another is Rosa filipes 'Kiftsgate', a vigorous climbing rose with creamy-white flowers that arch gracefully downwards, followed by masses of tiny red hips.

As autumn approaches and the rosehips ripen, take a moment to appreciate these vibrant fruits and the role they play in the life cycle of the rose. Whether you choose to harvest them for their nutritional benefits or leave them for the wildlife, rosehips are a delightful addition to any garden.