Content
Rosehip is a genus of plants that belongs to the Pink family and includes more than 300 species. The culture is ancient. Its fruits are very useful, they contain a large amount of elements necessary for the human body, they were used for treatment even in the ice age. Cultivated varieties of wild roses are grown by gardeners on plots as ornamental plants.
Rose hips contain many vitamins and nutrients
What does a wild rose bush look like?
Rosehip (Rosa eanina L.) is an unpretentious thorny shrub that is not afraid of either drought or frost. Able to grow up to 3 m in height. Depending on the growing conditions, it can live for 40-50 years, in exceptional cases longer. For example, in Germany, the oldest representative of the species grows, which looks like a tree. This rose hip lived for about five centuries. Its height is 13 meters, and the trunk girth is 50 cm.
The wild rose is very hardy. It has a powerful root system that goes 5-6 m deep into the ground, so it can survive even in adverse weather conditions. Rosehip branches are erect, curved downward, grow very quickly. In the first year of life, they reach a height of 100 cm or more. Almost completely they are covered with very sharp, not too large thorns, which initially grow soft, and lignify with aging.
Young shoots of the culture are green with a shade of purple, brown, red, possibly the presence of bristly pubescence on their surface. The leaves are medium in size, collected on branches in groups of 6-7 pieces. The flowers are not large, about 4 cm in diameter, have different shades: pink, white, yellow. At the end of the flowering period, an ovary appears in their place, then green berries, which, as they ripen, acquire an orange or red color. Sometimes you can find a rose hip with black fruits.
Most often, the variety is grown as a decoration for a personal plot, used to decorate hedges. Some gardeners, knowing about the characteristics of the plant, cultivate rose hips as food, vitamin, medicinal and melliferous crops. The shrub is capable of growing rapidly, is completely undemanding to care for, and can be located almost anywhere on the site.
What do wild rose flowers look like?
The plant begins to bloom in late spring and lasts until the last week of June. Then on its branches paniculate or corymbose inflorescences appear, most often white or pink, less often yellow, consisting of four to six buds. They can reach 10 cm in diameter, have up to 11 petals, numerous pistils and stamens, a large corolla, can be both monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous. The opening of flowers takes place at about five in the morning, closing - closer to 20.00. During flowering, the young dog rose looks elegant and delicate, almost always exudes a pleasant fragrant aroma. Some varieties may smell specific.
Sometimes the flowers of the plant have a pronounced doubleness.
What do rose hips look like?
The appearance of the rose hips is a dryish or elongated fleshy multi-root with a hard skin.The berries are small, up to 15 mm in diameter. Their surface is smooth or bristly, color from orange to black. The inside of the fruit contains numerous seeds and coarse fibers. The shape and shape of the berries can be different. Found in the composition:
- vitamins A, C, PP, E, group B;
- carotene;
- iron;
- calcium;
- potassium.
The earlier the rosehip is harvested, the more vitamin C it contains.
Rosehip is a berry or fruit
According to the botanical classification, the culture is a drupe fruit. Rosehip looks like a berry and, accordingly, belongs to this group. The berry characteristics of the plant exceed those of fruit: a juicy shell, a bush origin, an abundance of seeds inside. But in fact, the fruit is a tricky nut to crack, since it is not a full-fledged berry by the nature of its education.
Where does wild rosehip grow in nature, in what places
Most often, wild rose hips grow in the forest or steppe, but it can also be seen in the undergrowth, along roads, on forest edges, sand spits and along the shores of water bodies. It is found throughout the post-Soviet space and in most European regions. Initially, the place of growth of the culture was the northern hemisphere, then some species spread towards the south.
When and how fast does the rosehip grow?
In addition to the fact that the rosehip bush, the photo and description of which are presented above, is completely unpretentious in care, it still has the ability to grow rapidly. Already in the third or fourth year after planting, it forms a dense hedge. And if the plant is watered, cut and fed on time, then this moment can be significantly accelerated.
The culture begins to bear fruit in the second year of the growing season. Stable yields are observed at intervals of three to four years. The best results are shown by bushes that are more than four, but less than eight years old. The ripening time of the crop depends on the region of growth and weather conditions. In temperate zones, berries can be picked from the beginning of September.
The rapid growth of rose hips is facilitated by regular haircuts.
Conclusion
Rosehip is a unique plant that can be found in almost all corners of our planet. Fragrant buds and vitamin and berry abundance are hidden behind its thorny thorns. In summer, the bush pleases the eye with its beauty and decorative effect, and in the winter it provides a useful harvest. From rose hips, you can make delicious jam, jam and even marmalade, as well as juices and compotes, which will help protect yourself from colds and strengthen the immune system.
