Harvesting Rose Hips: Timing and Uses for Decor or Jelly
The short answer
Harvesting rose hips starts with leaving spent blooms on the plant so the small fruits can form. Pick hips in fall once they are fully colored and slightly soft, often after a light frost. Snip them with clean pruners and use them for decor or a proven jelly recipe.
Hips add color to the fall garden and feed birds through winter, so leave some behind.
What are rose hips?
A rose hip is the fruit of a rose. After a flower is pollinated, the base swells into a round or oval fruit that holds the seeds. Hips turn red, orange or nearly black as they ripen, depending on the species.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension publication on wild roses notes that rose hips can be used for tea, baked goods and jelly.
| Rose type | Hip size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rugosa rose | Large, tomato shaped | Hips can be used for jelly |
| Dog rose | Medium, oval | Common in older gardens |
| Wild native roses | Small to medium | Good for wildlife and decor |
| Shrub roses | Varies | Many set hips if not deadheaded |
| Hybrid tea | Often few | Bred for flowers |
Sources: University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension, Ask Extension, National Center for Home Food Preservation.
When are rose hips ripe?
Hips ripen in late summer through fall. The Ask Extension answer on ripening rose hips explains that hips are ready once they turn orange or red. Many people wait until after the first light frost, which can soften hips and sweeten their flavor.
Don’t wait too long. Hips left into winter may shrivel, turn mushy or be eaten by birds.
Weather and sun affect ripening. Roses in a warm, sunny spot often color up first. Our post on garden microclimates for cannabis explains how site conditions shift timing.
How do you pick rose hips?
Rose stems are covered in prickles.
Snip hips with clean pruners, leaving a short stem if you plan to use them for decor. For cooking, pull or cut them off and collect them in a bowl. Our post on sanitizing pruning shears for cannabis covers how to clean blades.
Roadside roses can pick up salt and dust.
How can you use rose hips?
For decor, cut stems of hips for wreaths, swags and fall arrangements. They hold color for weeks indoors.
For kitchen use, rinse the hips, trim both ends, then remove the seeds and fine hairs. Then cook them into jelly, syrup or tea.
For jelly, use a recipe from a reliable source. The National Center for Home Food Preservation guide to jams and jellies explains how to make jellies that set well.
Should you leave some hips on the plant?
Yes. Hips add color through winter and feed birds through winter. Leaving spent flowers in late summer lets hips form before cold weather.
Roses fit into mixed plantings that support wildlife. Our post on companion plants when growing marijuana explains how plant pairings work in shared spaces.
How to: step by step
- Stop deadheading roses in late summer.
- Watch hips color up in fall.
- Pick when fully colored and slightly soft.
- Use clean pruners.
- Rinse, trim and remove seeds before cooking.
- Follow a reliable recipe for jelly.
Troubleshooting
No hips form. Blooms were deadheaded or the variety sets few. Leave late flowers.
Hips shriveled. Picked too late. Harvest at full color.
Hips hard and bitter. Picked early. Wait for a light frost.
Hairs left inside. Prep was rushed. Scrape well.
Jelly didn’t set. Recipe or cooking steps varied. Follow a proven recipe exactly.
Harvesting rose hips is a rewarding fall task. Kind Seed Co shares more seasonal tips in outdoor growing.
Sources
- Wild roses, University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension, Wild roses
- Ripening rose hips, Ask Extension, Ripening rose hips
- Jams and jellies, National Center for Home Food Preservation (UGA), Jams and jellies
FAQ
When should I pick rose hips?
In fall when fully colored and slightly soft.
Do I need a frost first?
Not always, but a light frost can sweeten them.
Which roses make good hips?
Wild roses are a common choice.
Do I need to remove the seeds?
Yes, along with the fine hairs inside.
Which rose hips are good for jelly?
Ripe, fully colored hips.
