Rose hips are the
fruit (seed and
seed casing) of the
rose plant.
Flowers exist to produce fruit, they smell good and have bright colors in order to attract
pollinators to assist in the process. The roses we love are there, from the plants perspective, to produce rose hips in order to reproduce.
Hips are red or orange and have many uses. They are high in
Vitamin C, they have a sweet/tart flavor and can be used fresh, dried, or preserved. Rose hip tea, syrup, puree, jam, jelly, and sauce are all delicious. They are a source of
food for
wildlife. Rose water is made from hips and is a fragrant tonic. They are used in some
cosmetics.
Some roses are grown specifically for their hips, with the flowers being a small
bonus. Other roses are constantly
deadheaded to induce continual bloom and no hips are produced.