What is Rose Hips?

Rose Hips are the dried fruit of the wild rose, most commonly Rosa canina (the dog rose), in the rose family (Rosaceae). After the rose flower blooms and falls, the calyx swells into an orange-red fruit, the "hip," which holds the seeds. They are also called rose haws or rose heps.

About the plant

Rose hips have a tart, sweet, distinctly rose-fruit flavor and are among the highest sources of vitamin C by weight of any plant material. They have a long history as a food, appearing in tea, syrup, jelly, and wine traditions. During the Second World War in Britain, when citrus imports were curtailed, wild rose hips were officially gathered from hedgerows and processed into rose hip syrup for children, a well-documented example of the fruit's food value.

Related herbs

• Rose Buds and Petals — the dried flower of the same genus.

Rose Hips: form & sizes

We carry Rose Hips as organic whole dried fruit, sold by weight in sizes from 1 oz to 1 lb. We make no health or therapeutic claims.

Storage

Store Rose Hips in an airtight container, away from heat, light, and humidity, to preserve its color and aroma.

Rose Hips at a glance

Botanical name

Rosa canina

Family

Rosaceae

Native region

Europe and Western Asia

Plant part

fruit

Sourcing

Organic

Also known as

Rose Hip, Rose Haw, Dog Rose Hip

Notable content

Vitamin C, carotenoids, flavonoids, pectin

Form

whole dried fruit

Sizes

1 oz to 1 lb