Dog-rose
Rosa canina · Rosaceae
📷 Roberta F. · CC BY-SA 3.0
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around dog-rose and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Flowering
- May to June, simple pink to white flowers
- Adult size
- 2.5 m in height, spreading shrub form
- Growth
- Fast and vigorous
- Hardiness
- Very hardy, tolerates down to -20°C
- Origin
- Europe, Asia Minor and North Africa
- Soil type
- Undemanding, tolerates poor and rocky soils
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
Rosehips need little care but appreciate well-drained soil and at least 6 hours of sun. They tolerate poor soils.
The common mistake
Planting too densely in a hedge and not thinning: inner branches die back, disease takes hold, and fruit becomes sparse or damaged.
The pro's trick
Harvest fruit in late October when they're deep red and soft: the best rosehip tea comes from berries that are fully ripe, almost mushy.
Seasonal watch
September-October: watch for powdery mildew (oïdium) on leaves during warm, damp autumns.
Care
Watering
Rosehip is very tolerant of drought once established. Water regularly for the first two years after planting to encourage root development. During prolonged dry periods, weekly watering is sufficient. No watering is necessary in temperate climates, except in exceptional cases.
Sunlight
Plant your rosehip in full sun for optimal flowering and better branching. It tolerates partial shade, but flower and fruit production diminish. Choose an open location, away from root competition with nearby trees.
Pruning and maintenance
Prune after flowering (July-August) to maintain a harmonious shape and control height. Remove dead wood and crossing branches. Light pruning is usually sufficient; rosehip also tolerates harder pruning. Leave the hips (fruits) in autumn-winter for wildlife.
Soil
Rosehip adapts to almost all soil types: chalky, acidic, poor or rocky. Avoid only waterlogged areas or heavily compacted clay soils. Adding compost at planting improves establishment, but isn't essential.
Fertilizer
No fertilizer is needed for mature rosehip. At planting, well-decomposed compost or balanced organic fertilizer can promote establishment. Avoid excess nitrogen, which would encourage foliage at the expense of flowering.
Diseases and pests
Rosehip is remarkably resistant to diseases and pests. Powdery mildew and rust may appear in very humid conditions, but rarely with severity. Good air circulation limits these issues. Systematic treatment is generally not required.
Did you know?
Rosehip has long supplied hips (false red-orange fruits) used in traditional herbal medicine for their supposed richness in vitamin C. During the Second World War, the United Kingdom encouraged wild harvesting to supplement rationed oranges. Today, this hardy shrub remains a major ecological ally, with its fruits feeding birds and small mammals throughout autumn and winter.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
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Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.