Ramanas rose, rosa rugosa
These roses make a good low hedge, and their prickly branches will help keep invaders out. They are also very beautiful to look at.
The fruit is good for us as well as the birds: Fruit - raw or cooked. They are very sweet and pleasant to eat, though it takes quite a bit of patience to eat any quantity. The fruit is a fairly large size for a rose with a relatively thick layer of flesh.
The fruit is about 25mm in diameter. Rich in vitamin C, containing up to 2.75% dry weight.
Flowers - raw or cooked, an aromatic flavour, they are also used in jellies and preserves. Remove the bitter white base of the petals before using them.
Young shoots - cooked and used as a potherb. Harvested as they come through the ground in spring and are still tender.
The seed is a good source of vitamin E, it can be ground into a powder and mixed with flour or added to other foods as a supplement. Be sure to remove the seed hairs.
A pleasant tasting fruity-flavoured tea is made from the fruit, it is rich in vitamin C. A tea is also made from the leaves.