And like the apple or most any fruit, the hip can be used in several ways by the successful gardener. Rose hips provide winter color, texture and interest to an otherwise dull winter garden. They provide food for overwintering wildlife. The seeds contained within the hip can be used to propagate new roses. And hips can be blended with other ingredients to make jams, jellies, soups and teas.
Some roses produce better hips than others.
Below is a table of roses divided by Class, indicating their average height, color, frequency of bloom and USDA Hardiness Zone Rating. Growing rose hips is best done with once-blooming roses. This is because there is no temptation to deadhead blooms for a repeat flush. After the rose has blossomed, the gardener must wait until the hips mature, just as any fruit tree grower must wait for their bounty. With roses, this may take most of the growing season.