Growing Roses from Hips: Seed Propagation Guide & Genetic Reality

Want to grow roses from hips? Here's the process and the catch.

Step-by-Step

1. Let hips form (stop deadheading late summer)
2. Harvest ripe hips (red/pink, firm, before shriveling)
3. Plant whole hip in peat pot, outdoors for winter stratification
4. Spring: extract seeds, float test (sinkers viable)
5. Sow in rich soil, full sun
6. Fertilize at 2nd leaf set

The Genetic Reality

Seedlings ≠ parent. Sexual recombination = unique plants. Most will be single pink species types. A few may be exceptional — but unpredictable.

Detailed Resource

Complete Rose Hybridization Guide — covers crossing, selection, evaluation.

Grow from hips for fun and discovery. Buy named varieties for certainty.