Roses show off their hips
Botanist and Editor of The Plant Review, James Armitage, shares the seasonal delights of the colourful fruit of roses and their kin
For those lucky enough to get into the countryside in May, the hawthorn hedgerows are a sight to behold. Like something from a David Hockney painting, they billow alone in the landscape, litter-free and thronging with wildlife.
But what really amazes me is the roses themselves. After seeing them in full bloom in Shanghai, I had sworn I would never grow another rose. Our climate, I decided, simply wasn’t up to it, they would always be a little poorly and unwilling.
Alongside the rose hips, there are the showy autumn offerings of other members of the rose family, particularly Sorbus (rowans and whitebeams), not to mention apples, plums and pears ripening in the fruit garden; plenty to enjoy at this time of year.
