Rose hips are the wonderful little red pods left behind after frost has killed the leaves and flowers on rose bushes. They’re chock-full of Vitamin C (rose hips are a higher source of Vitamin C than any citrus fruit) and both humans and birds love them. Rose hips are actually the seedpod of the rose bush and they hold from a single seed to more than twenty seeds. They come in many colors, ranging from soft green, to orange-red, yellow, and dark red.

There are so many things you can do with rose hips—teas, jellies and marmalades, syrups, and decorative accents for the home. For tea, the most common usage, you can use the rose hips fresh or dried.

The most important thing to remember when you’re harvesting rose hips is to determine that the plants are free of pesticides and herbicides. I never pick them on roadsides or edges of farm fields as those plants have always been sprayed. Instead, go into the wooded areas around the Palouse and find bushes that aren’t near those toxic areas. If you grow your own rose bushes, stop deadheading blossoms in mid-August and let those remaining flowers produce rose hips. Leave the rose hips on the bush until the first hard frost so that they get a brighter color and are softer in texture.

After picking, trim off the blossom and stem ends with scissors, then cut the hips lengthwise and remove the seeds and small hairs. Thoroughly rinse. Dry the rose hips by spreading them in a single layer on a tray and place in a dehydrator, or you can use the oven set on the lowest setting. You can also dry them in a dark, well-ventilated place. After they’re dry, place them in a glass jar in a cool, dry place.

If you want to use them for decorative bouquets, dry the entire hip and stem intact. They really look pretty when you pick a clump of stems with the rose hips on them and put them in a simple vase. And when you’re out picking rose hips, don’t forget to leave a few behind for the birds too!

If you’d like to plant a few rose bushes to produce your own safe supply of rose hips, check out these varieties of shrub roses: Bonica, Carefree Beauty, Sevillana, Knock Out and any variety from the Meidiland series. Make sure that they get at least six hours of sunshine per day, and dig a generous planting hole, about 18-20” wide and deep. Shrub roses are best as they bloom profusely and, therefore, are loaded with rose hips each winter. They also have a long bloom time—often from May until the first frost. All the above-mentioned rose bush varieties thrive in our Zone.

Pat Diaz lives and gardens on the eastern edge of the Palouse and is thoroughly enjoying all the wonderful beauty of Summer.