The potato rose, also known as the apple rose or Sylt rose, is very robust and easy to care for. It likes to grow as a wild rose on coasts and between dunes, but is also a popular garden plant and tolerates pruning very well.

The potato rose is cut in early spring

Does the potato rose have to be cut regularly?

Although the potato rose also thrives without pruning, this promotes dense growth and a rich abundance of flowers. Therefore, you should regularly reach for the pruning shears. Otherwise your potato rose may only bud moderately, because it mainly blooms on the new shoots that grew in spring.

When is the right time to cut?

It is best to prune your potato rose before it starts budding, i.e. in (late) winter or early spring. Cut freestanding roses every two years. Make sure that the top bud of a pruned shoot is always facing outwards.

Above all, shorten the weak shoots. Leave about two to three buds there. Shorten the stronger shoots just a little. Your potato rose grows relatively loosely and blooms profusely.

How do I prune a hedge of potato roses?

A hedge should be trimmed every year to keep it in 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 well for the vase. Be careful of the sharp thorns though, they can be quite painful to touch. You may prefer to wear gloves when cutting.

Incidentally, the fruits (rose hips) of the potato rose are edible and can be harvested from August. They are quite thick and fleshy and are excellent for making chutneys, jam or a delicious liqueur. The petals, which are also edible, are 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 twigs just before the fruits are fully ripe and then hang them up to dry in an airy and well-protected place, because birds also like rose hips. For this reason, you should never harvest all the fruits of a potato rose, but always leave some.

The essentials in brief:

  • well tolerated by cuts
  • Pruning not absolutely necessary
  • Regular pruning promotes flowering
  • recommended: pruning every 2 years, hedges every year
  • best time: winter to spring
  • can also be cut for the vase
  • Fruits and petals edible
  • Rose hips are a popular food source for birds
  • dried fruits on the branch great autumn decoration

tips

If you prune your potato rose regularly, it will grow nice and dense and bloom profusely.

Category:

Vegetable garden