Displaying
its holiday colors, the non-native Rosa rugosa (pictured above) is an
attractive and habitat friendly addition to your landscape. It happily
provides shelter and food for birds, insects and more.
Historically
Native Americans made tea and a vegetable like dish from the hips
(fruit) of a variety of native Rose species. Extremely high in Vitamin C
and bioflavonoids rose hips can be used fresh or dried.
Be
careful with Rosa rugosa shrubs in particular, they will take over a
10' x 10' area within a few years. While a gorgeous plant and carefree
it is not native to California. Cutting it back each season is
important to prevent its spread into California's wild places.
