Spring has definitely come to Texas. Our wildflowers are blooming along the our roads, thanks to Lady Bird Johnson’s efforts to beautify our landscapes. My hubbie’s pink fragrant rugosa rose (Rosa rugosa) is also blooming, which takes me to today’s topic: rosehips.

Rosehips are the fruit (seed pod) of the rose. We don’t see them very much any more because most folks prune their roses after they bloom.

Rugosa roses have wonderfully large rosehips. Commercially, most rosehips come from the dog rose (Rosa canina), a beautiful five-petal rose. 

Why rosehips? They are well-known for their antioxidant content. Rosehips are a rich, all-natural source of vitamin C (much more so than oranges) and bioflavonoids. They also contain other vitamins and minerals including vitamins A, E, B-complex, and D; iron; and calcium.

During World War II as a part of the war effort in the United States, the dog rose was planted in Victory Gardens at the urging of the government as a high-C food. This rose can still be found growing throughout the United States—on roadsides and in wet, sandy areas up and down coastlines. 

Herbalists recommend rosehips to:

• build immune systems.
• fight infections.
• strengthen nervous systems.

They are a gentle way to strengthen fragile blood vessels and other tissues to prevent bruising, fractures, and hemorrhoids. 

I’ll share some recipes with rosehips next time.

Wendy Keeney-Kennicutt