I have had wonderful success growing rose seed. Last year I had a four inch rose plant with a rose on it. The ones I planted last year made it through the winter fine. Some sites say I am zone 5 some say 6. I didn't cover. If your're concerned through a milk jug or soda bottle over them for the winter. I WS some seed from my son's roses this winter and they sprouted also.

I was just wondering the same thing. I was intimidated by the instructions for the miniature rose seeds I'd purchased and DH would like me to grow him some of the roses that have hips suitable for making rose hip jelly and rose hip tea.

So I was just about to ask about roses. :-)

Protect them from foraging winter critters like squirrels and chipmunks. Ask me how I know?

Deanna, I've read that different roses produce different tasting hips, best being rosa villosa (the apple rose) and the rugosas for good tasting tea.

My rosa glauca produces tons of hips but there's no 'meat' to them, they are almost all seed (sows really easily too, even self sows). Hybrid Peach Blossom has big hips (:)) but I deadhead that one for more blooms because the flower fragrance is so great and don't end up with enough to harvest.

I was asking on the rose forum and they said that the rugosas and the dog roses were the best for rose hips.

I have several rugosa roses if you'd like seed for ws, just drop me an email.
-B

Several years ago Don posted a pic. of a rose in flower which he sowed at Winter Solstice. Following his directions, I collected a number of seeds from different rugosas around this neighbourhood and none of them germinated, so I gave up. I do have a few rose bushes but they are grown from cuttings.

This forum is filled with enablers. :-D ;-) LOL

Thanks.

I'd read about volunteers on the antique rose forum and got one this year, have no idea what it will look like. I'm thinking it isn't likely going to be anything I'll want to keep.

I get suckers, too, know the difference, and this one is too far away to be a sucker. Thanks for the reminder about winter protecting, wise advice for a young rose although I'm guessing this one is hardy climate wise.

Only a couple of my roses set hips, so far anyway. I've no particular desire to grow roses from seed. I think there are some old threads about the best way maybe the propagation forum. I'd rather do cuttings although I only get but a few to root out of every batch I start.

Rugosas do very well for seed collection, try again Northerner, you will eventually be succesful. I have a lovely rugosa out in the garden that I grew from seed. I collected the hips from the plants outside the Coney Island Aquarium. Several seeds sprouted. I gave most away but kept one and it's a beauty. The only problem with rugosas (I think) is that their canes are like rasp saws. OUCH! This one stays in a large container on the far edge of the property and gets cut down to nubbins each spring.

So rugosas are the perfect anti-burglary rose to plant under your windows then?

Beauty and barbed wire at the same time. ;-) :-D LOL

Uh, yes. And some Barberry and some Opuntia cactus too.