Dog rose

Profile

Family

Rosaceae

Habit

Shrub

Height

3 m

Spread

4 m

Growth

very fast

Lifespan

200 years

First yield

after 3 years

Hardiness

zone 3–7

Shade tolerance

partial shade

Soil

Sand, Silt, Loam, Clay

Soil moisture

dry – very wet

pH

5.5 – 7.5

Flowering & harvest

Times apply to the northern hemisphere in a temperate climate and shift with altitude and cultivar.

Uses

Edible: Fruit: raw, sweet and soft after frost, cooked, dried; jam, syrup, baby food supplement, wine, oil; 3-10 tons per hectare, about 1000 calories per square meter. Seeds: rich in Vitamin E, powdered as flour or supplement; remove seed hairs to avoid itching powder. Petals: raw or cooked as vegetable or for jam. Leaves: dried as tea substitute.

Medicinal: Fruit rich in vitamins A, C (especially in the peel), E, K, B1, B2, B6, minerals, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids. This fruit boosts the immune system, benefits the stomach and heart, reduces inflammation, alleviates pain in arthritis, and lowers blood pressure. It can aid in colds, flu, gastritis, and spring fatigue. The moist petals can be placed on the eyes, Bach flowers can enhance vitality, the seeds are beneficial for kidneys and bladder, and the oil can regenerate the skin and help with wounds and wrinkles.

Other uses: Erosion control and soil stabilization, wind-resistant protective hedge, food and nesting site, rootstock for roses, fragrant plant. These plants serve as erosion control and soil stabilizers, provide protection against wind, act as food and nesting sites, can be used as rootstock for roses, and emit a pleasant fragrance.

Notable

Special features: constantly renews itself through root shoots; climbs with the help of its thorns: e.g. 1000-year-old rose bush in Hildesheim reaching 10m; Used by Celts as incense (love, femininity, intuition, sexuality); Harvest fruits on sunny days for optimal vitamin content; Only pluck the petals = encourages further fruit formation; There are over 200 species of wild roses, other cultivated varieties include: potato, vitamin, apple, alpine, and damask rose.

Origin & habitat

Europe, from Norway in the north to North Africa and Southwest Asia in the south and east.

Sandy coastal areas.

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