The potato rose, also known as apple rose or Sylter rose, is very robust and easy to care for. As a wild rose, it likes to grow on coasts and between dunes, but is also a popular garden plant and tolerates pruning very well.
How often and when should you cut a potato rose?
The potato rose should be cut back every two years in winter or spring to promote dense growth and lush flowering. Hedges with potato roses require annual pruning to maintain their shape.
Does the potato rose need to be cut regularly?
The potato rose thrives without pruning, but this promotes dense growth and a rich abundance of flowers. Therefore, you should regularly use secateurs (€14.00 on Amazon). Otherwise it can happen that your potato rose only sets a few buds because it mainly blooms on the new shoots that grew in spring.
When is the right time to cut?
It's best to prune your potato rose before it sets buds, i.e. in (late) winter or early spring. Free-standing roses should only be cut every two years. Make sure that the top bud of a trimmed shoot always faces outwards.
Above all, shorten the weak shoots. Leave about two to three buds there. Shorten the stronger shoots just a little. This means your potato rose will grow relatively loosely and bloom profusely.
How do I prune a hedge with potato roses?
A hedge should be trimmed every year so that it maintains its beautiful shape. This also applies if you have planted potato roses. Here you cut off the oldest shoots of the potato rose directly above the ground. This keeps the plant young and dense.
Can I also cut the potato rose for the vase?
The potato rose is not a classic cut flower, but it can also be cut for the vase. However, be careful of the sharp thorns, they can be quite painful to touch. You may prefer to wear gloves when cutting.
The fruits (rose hips) of the potato rose are edible and can be harvested from August. They are quite thick and meaty and can be made into chutneys, jam or a delicious liqueur. The petals, which are also edible, can be used for rose petal jelly, tea or to flavor sweets and desserts.
Dried on the branch, the rose hips are a great autumn decoration. Cut the branches shortly before the fruits are fully ripe and then dry them hanging in an airy and well-protected place, because birds also like the rose hips. For this reason, you should never harvest all the fruits of a potato rose, but always leave some left.
The most important things in brief:
- easy to cut
- Pruning not absolutely necessary
- regular cutting promotes flower formation
- recommended: prune every 2 years, hedges every year
- best time: winter to spring
- can also be cut for the vase
- Fruits and petals edible
- Rosehips are a popular food source for birds
- dried fruits on the branch great autumn decoration
Tip
If you cut back your potato rose regularly, it will be nice and dense and bloom profusely.
