Rose hips are the fruit of the rose plant, forming after the successful pollination of the flower. This accessory fruit surrounds the seeds. They generally range in color from red and orange to dark purple, depending on the species. While the rose genus Rosa includes over a hundred different species, the development of hips is not universal across all types. Understanding which roses reliably produce this fruit requires looking beyond the popular modern garden cultivars.
Identifying Rose Species That Produce Hips
The most prolific producers of rose hips are generally the species roses and many older shrub varieties. These roses are often single-blooming, meaning they flower once a season, dedicating their energy to developing fruit afterward. This reproductive strategy results in a consistent and abundant harvest of hips in the autumn.
One of the most dependable species is Rosa rugosa, commonly known as the Japanese rose. This plant is renowned for producing large, tomato-like, bright-red hips that are easily distinguished from other types. The hips of R. rugosa are known for their high content of ascorbic acid.
The European native Rosa canina, or Dog Rose, is another classic example, widely used in commercial harvesting. It produces firm, deep crimson hips that ripen consistently in hedgerows and wilder areas. The hips of the Dog Rose are typically smaller than the R. rugosa variety but are valued for their flavor and texture.
Other species roses also develop showy and numerous hips. Rosa moyesii is known for its distinctive flagon-shaped, bright-red hips that hang prominently from the branches. Rambling roses, such as Rosa filipes ‘Kiftsgate’, often produce massive clusters of small, bright-red hips that offer winter interest. Additionally, certain older shrub classes, like the Albas and some Hybrid Musks, have been selectively bred to retain this desirable fruiting characteristic.
Why Some Roses Do Not Develop Hips
Many of the roses commonly found in suburban gardens, such as Hybrid Teas and Floribundas, do not produce hips due to specific breeding practices. Modern hybridizing often focuses on traits like continuous blooming, large petal counts, and complex flower shapes. These characteristics frequently come at the expense of reproductive fertility.
Many modern hybrids are genetically sterile, meaning their pollen or ovules are not viable, preventing successful fertilization. Without fertilization, the flower base, which would become the fruit, cannot mature, as the biological signal to develop the hip is missing.
Another common reason for the absence of hips is the practice of deadheading. Gardeners deadhead roses to encourage the plant to produce more flowers instead of setting fruit. When a faded flower is cut off, the plant’s resources are redirected toward generating new buds, effectively eliminating any chance for a hip to form.
The Lifecycle of the Rose Hip
The development of a rose hip begins immediately after successful pollination, typically in the late spring or early summer. Following fertilization, the ovary at the base of the flower swells, and the petals drop away. This nascent hip will initially appear small and green as the seeds inside begin to mature.
It takes approximately three to four months for the hip to fully develop and ripen. The most noticeable change occurs in late summer and early autumn when the fruit changes color from green to its mature shade of red, orange, or sometimes purple-black. This color change signals that the seeds inside are fully formed and ready for dispersal.
To ensure hip production, gardeners must stop deadheading the flowers on hip-producing varieties around mid-summer. Allowing the last flush of blooms to remain on the bush permits the natural process of pollination and fruit development to occur. The hips will persist on the plant well into the winter, providing a source of food for wildlife and visual interest in the garden.