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The differences between roses and rosehips is a pressing question for many gardeners. Determining the species of a plant can be extremely difficult due to the large number of similarities. It often happens that one bush is planted on a plot, but another grows. To avoid such a situation, you need to figure out how to distinguish these plants.
Similarities between rose hips and roses
Both shrubs belong to the same family and genus. In botanical classifiers they are classified as pink-flowered, which is explained by many similarities in structure and vegetation cycle.
Most of the varieties that gardeners grow are obtained through selective breeding and are hybrids. Wild varieties are extremely rare. They are practically not used for decorative purposes.
When comparing roses and rose hips, the following similarities are highlighted:
- highly branched structure of bushes;
- a large number of erect shoots;
- there are sharp thorns on the stems;
- unpaired long leaves with jagged edges;
- powerful root system located at a depth of 50-60 cm;
- similar flower structure.
Plants are equally demanding of sunlight
Both shrubs can be climbing or standard, which depends on the intensity of growth of the stems. The height of some species reaches 3 m. They need regular watering, react poorly to drought and cannot tolerate stagnation of liquid in the roots.
Most varieties are characterized by high resistance to cold. Also, these plants exhibit low sensitivity to infections. Similar properties are characteristic of hybrid varieties of roses. However, most species cultivated by gardeners are considered sensitive, demanding and very fastidious.
What is the difference between a rose and a rose hip?
The main difference between ornamental crops is different cultivation technologies. They also have many distinctive characteristics in their structure. The differences between the flowers of shrubs are considered a particularly valuable criterion.
The difference between plants can be very difficult to see even with a detailed examination. You cannot consider a rose and a rose hip as one and the same. These crops have many differences, but only experienced gardeners and botany specialists can distinguish them. Therefore, beginners are advised to familiarize themselves with several methods that help determine the species of a shrub.
How to distinguish a rose from a rose hip by leaves
The advantage of this method is that it is available throughout the entire growing season. When a plant does not bloom, it can be very difficult to determine whether a rose hip or rose is growing in the area.
At first glance, the leaves of both crops are very similar. They have similar serrations and shapes. Upon closer examination, you can notice the difference and distinguish the shrubs.
When comparing, the following aspects are taken into account:
- the leaves on roses are larger and matte;
- the color of the leaf blades is dark green;
- the shape and size do not change depending on the location on the shoots;
- the number of stipules on the bushes is from 3 to 5;
- on rose hips the leaves are glossy and small;
- venation is insignificant;
- number of stipules – 7, regardless of variety;
- the color is most often light.
On roses, the stipules are not covered with spines. At the same time, they are prone to early discoloration and wilting. In rose hips, this area is covered with small shoots. The difference between shrubs is indicated by the degree of venation.
How to distinguish a rose shoot from a rose hip shoot
Despite a number of similarities in the structure of the bush, cultivated plants can be distinguished by their stems. On bush varieties they are erect and green.
Most roses are erect. The stems need staking only during the flowering period, due to the risk of breaking under the weight of the buds. On rose hips, shoots are erect only in the early stages of the growing season. In the future, they require a garter and support, otherwise the stems will droop to the ground.
Because of these features, it can be very difficult to distinguish a rose hip from a climbing rose. Both species have long, fast-growing shoots. In these cases, you need to pay attention to their color.
Rosehip shoots are not subject to complete lignification
The stems of the shrubs retain their characteristic brown tint throughout the season. It can only change if the plant dries out due to a long absence of watering.
Difference between shoots:
How to distinguish by thorns
The presence of thorns can greatly help in determining the species of a shrub. To distinguish a rose bush from a rose hip, you need to carefully examine the shoots.It is best to do this with protective gloves to avoid damaging the skin.
The thorns on roses are large but sparse
The spines on the rosehip are small, but there are a lot of them
To discover the similarities and differences between rose hips and roses, it is not enough to examine the plants before they bloom. The easiest way to determine the identity of the bushes is after the buds open.
What are the differences during flowering?
First of all, you need to take into account the timing of budding. It is impossible to distinguish a rose from a rose hip from a photo when flowering, since in order to do this you need to determine the period when the plant blooms. It differs for different varieties.
Rose hips begin to bloom earlier. This usually occurs in early or mid-May.
Rosehip flowering is short-lived - up to 20 days
Rose buds usually bloom in June. At the same time, their flowering period is much longer. This is one of the main criteria by which the described shrubs can be distinguished. On some varieties, the buds open twice per season. Certain species are characterized by continuous flowering throughout the summer.
There are a number of differences between the structure of the buds:
- Roses have large flowers. The diameter of the open buds on some varieties reaches 12-14 cm. They have a cup-shaped or hemispherical shape. The color of the flowers varies depending on the variety. There are densely double species. Their flowers consist of a large number of petals - up to 80.
- Rose hips have fewer buds, and their diameter is up to 8 cm. Larger ones are rare. Most varieties are characterized by a simple flower structure. They consist of 5-6 lilac-white petals and a yellow core.
Among the similarities and differences between roses and rose hips, one more feature should be highlighted. On the shoots of almost all types of the latter, orange or red fruits are formed. In roses they are found only on wild varieties. They ripen from mid-August to early September, which makes it possible to distinguish the shrubs from each other.
Conclusion
Differences between rose and rose hips can be found in all parts of the plant. Despite a number of similarities, these are not the same crops that require different growing conditions. Shrubs can be distinguished by the structure of shoots, flowers, number of thorns and leaf size.
