Botanical name: Rose canine
Common names: Dog rose
Characteristics
- Thorny climber with curved spines. Weaves in between other shrubs and uses them to support its growth. Found in hedgerows, woodland edges and on scrubland
- Leaves: 2-3 small leaflets.
- Flowers: Large pink or white 5 petalled flowers. Appear in June-July
- Fruit: Bright red oval shaped hips (15-20mm) form in small clusters. each hip contains many seeds.
- Hips appear in autumn. More vitamin C in hips than in oranges and were used to make syrups, tea and marmalade
- Hairs inside hips are an irritant extracted to make an itching powder
- Nectar in flowers important source for insects. Fruits are eaten by birds
Dying Properties
- Colour: Pale pink Blue-grey (iron mordant)#
- Parts used/Foraging Season: Hips, autumn
Location
Poet’s path, across stone wall
