Eat Your Roses

When we think about roses, we usually think about them either as cut flowers or garden plants. And, if we stretch our imagination a bit, we think about how they can be used for perfume and potpourri.

But in this issue of In the Garden, we're going to take your thinking a step further and introduce you to other uses for roses. Did you know that you can eat your roses? Read on to find out more...

Many of you may know that roses are a member of the apple family. Ever seen a rose hip? That's that big seed pod that forms on rose canes after it blossoms. Some roses, especially Rugosa roses, form rose hips that are as big as crab apples -- about the size of a quarter! And, in the fall they turn brilliant colors of red and orange, and sometimes even purple.

And, being a true member of the apple family, rose hips are edible. There are tons of recipes for using rose hips. We've listed a few of our favorites below. Rose hips are also very high in vitamin C, and you'll often seen them listed as the main source for vitamin C in many commercially available Vitamins.

You can also eat rose petals. Sprinkle them on salads, use them as garnish, or make them into wonderful rose-petal jelly. One of our customers told us that Rosa rugosa alba has the best tasting rose petals. But, if you want to find out for yourself, host a rose-petal tasting party and let your guests tell you which one is the best (don't forget the homemade rose-petal wine)!