Can I eat the rose hips raw?

You should avoid eating them raw because the tiny, hairy seeds inside can irritate your throat.

Does it need pruning?

It benefits from light pruning in late winter to remove dead wood and maintain shape.

Plant guide

Dog rose.

Rosa canina L.

Pronounced RO-zuh kuh-NYE-nuh

Also known as Common-briar, Dog Rose, Dog-rose, Dogbrier

Rosa canina — Photo by Codrin Bucur (CC BY) via gbif

The dog rose is a charming, hardy shrub known for its arching stems and delicate flowers. It produces bright red hips in the autumn that are quite popular with local wildlife. You will love how it brings a classic, wild look to any garden space.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Deciduous shrub
Light: Full sun
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 7 to 14 days
Mature size: 3 meters
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 3 to 8
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer

Care

Plant this rose in a spot that gets plenty of sun to encourage the best blooms. Keep an eye out for aphids or black spot on the leaves during humid weather. Pruning helps keep the shrub from getting too unruly and promotes healthy new growth.

Watering: Water deeply once the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Feeding: Apply a balanced fertilizer during the active growing season in spring and summer.
Pruning: Prune in late winter or early spring to remove dead wood and shape the plant.
Repotting: Repot only if the plant has outgrown its container or needs fresh soil nutrients.
Soil: Well-draining loamy soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.0
Temperature: -30 to 35°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 20 to 50 years.
Fragrance: Light
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of drainage holes
Stunted growth during the active season

Safety

People: The plant is not toxic, but the sharp thorns can cause significant skin injury.
Pets: This plant is generally considered non-toxic to cats and dogs, though the thorns can cause physical injury.
Children: Keep children away from the dense, thorny stems to prevent painful scratches.
Contact allergens: The sharp prickles can cause mechanical skin irritation or scratches.
Airborne allergens: Pollen may trigger mild allergic reactions in sensitive individuals during the flowering season.
Edibility: Remove the irritating hairs from inside the rose hips before consuming them.

How to identify it

Arching thorny stems
Five petaled pale pink flowers
Oval serrated green leaves
Bright red oval rose hips

Height: 1 to 3m
Spread: 1 to 2.5m
Leaves: green, deciduous
Flowers: white, pink, 4 to 6cm
Fruit: red, Autumn

Problems to watch for

By symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed, cuttings, layering
When to plant: spring, autumn
Overwintering: It is fully hardy and requires no special protection. Simply clear away fallen leaves to reduce fungal issues in spring.
In containers: It is generally too large and vigorous for containers unless you have a very large tub.

Seed

1. Collect ripe hips in autumn.
2. Clean seeds and sow immediately in pots.
3. Place in a cold frame to experience winter chilling.

Planting aromatic herbs nearby can help mask the scent of the rose from certain pests.

Grows well with

Lavender — It provides a contrasting texture and attracts beneficial pollinators.
Catmint — The sprawling habit of catmint covers the base of the rose, keeping roots cool.

Similar species

Sweet briar — It has similar growth habits but features apple scented foliage.

Science

Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Rosa
Order: Rosales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Europe, northwest Africa, and western Asia.
Conservation: This species is widespread and not of conservation concern.

It thrives in hedgerows and scrubland, utilizing its thorns to climb and protect itself from herbivores.

Value to wildlife: nectar source, provides nesting sites, winter food for birds
Pollinators: bees, butterflies, beetles
Uses: hedgerows, wildlife gardens, culinary syrups, medicinal teas

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 7/9
Nutrients: 5/9
Temperature: 5/9
Moisture: 5/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Can I eat the rose hips raw?: You should avoid eating them raw because the tiny, hairy seeds inside can irritate your throat.
Does it need pruning?: It benefits from light pruning in late winter to remove dead wood and maintain shape.

Where the name comes from

The scientific name Rosa canina comes from the Latin for rose and dog, while the common name dog rose likely stems from its historical use as a remedy for rabies.

Good to know

The hips remain on the bush well into winter, providing a vital food source for birds.
It is often used as a rootstock for grafting cultivated roses.
The name dog rose likely refers to its historical use in treating dog bites.

Keep your dog rose growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

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This guide was generated with AI and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.