| Description |
Dog Rose is a climbing or shrubby wild rose species native to Europe, northwest Africa, and western Asia. It is grown for ornamental, culinary, and medicinal uses. Rosa canina 'Assisiensis' is the only dog rose cultivar without prickles - all other dog roses have fewer, but more hooked thorns than other rose species that aid them in climbing. The plant has fragrant, white to deep pink flowers that mature into edible red-orange fruit called rose hips. Dog Rose can be used as the root stock for other cultivated roses and is planted to stabilize soil in land reclamation projects. It is an invasive species in New Zealand's high country. The roots, foliage, blooms, and fruit have culinary and medicinal uses. Rose hips are very high in Vitamin C and antioxidants and are made into jams, syrups, wine, and tea. Dog Rose was planted in Victory Gardens during World War II to supplement a wartime diet. Rose hips are used as a diuretic and laxative, to treat kidney and urinary tract disorders, arthritis, gout, viral infections, and the common cold. If planting from dried seeds, stratify first to aid germination.
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