Creating a rustic festive table with rose hips and seasonal foliage
Christmas is the perfect time to gather with loved ones, sharing good food and festive cheer around a beautifully set table. To add a rustic touch to your Christmas décor, consider using rose hips in your table arrangements. These vibrant, berry-like fruits add a seasonal feel and a natural elegance that fits perfectly with the spirit of the season. If you’re fortunate enough to have roses still in bloom, add a few to your arrangements for a fragrant finishing touch that captures the essence of an English winter garden.
For a natural, inviting centrepiece, choose a rustic bowl, antique tray, or woven basket and fill it with clusters of rose hips in deep red and orange. These warm colours echo the richness of the season and pair beautifully with pinecones, dried foliage, and sprigs of greenery like eucalyptus or fir. For an extra festive flourish, add a few winter-blooming roses nestled amongst the rose hips. This simple arrangement captures the beauty of winter’s colours and textures, bringing the outdoors in for a welcoming Christmas table.
To create a striking but simple festive display, try small bouquets centred on rose hips. Place these in rustic vases, mason jars, or milk jugs, and add sprigs of rosemary, ivy, or other seasonal greenery. If a few roses are still flowering, tuck them into the arrangements for a touch of softness and colour. The mix of textures and warm tones will bring a cosy, natural feel to your Christmas table, and the bouquets make lovely accents throughout your home.
Some roses continue to produce beautiful hips through the winter months, adding colour and interest to arrangements. Here are a few David Austin varieties that are perfect for this purpose:
Add a seasonal touch to each place setting with individual sprigs of rose hips. Tie a small bundle with twine or festive ribbon and place it atop each guest’s napkin for a rustic yet elegant detail. Or, arrange a few rose hips and evergreen sprigs in tiny jars at each setting. For a simple finishing touch, scatter a few loose rose hips and sprigs of greenery around the table.
To enhance the festive atmosphere, place candles among your rose hip arrangements for a warm, inviting glow. Choose pillar candles that complement the rich tones of the rose hips, or use glass votives adorned with a ring of rose hips at the base. The soft, flickering candlelight will add warmth to your gathering, creating a cosy ambience that’s just right for a Christmas celebration.
-
Three ways to use rose hips: from jam to wreaths to wildlifeAs the crisp chill of frosty mornings announces the arrival of autumn, the garden offers up one of its hidden treasures: rose hips. These vibrant red and orange fruits, emerging from spent blooms, bring a dash of seasonal colour and charm to any outdoor landscape. Rather than deadheading roses on hip-producing varieties, let the hips flourish and reap their beauty and benefits. Rose hips are not just ornamental, they provide a wealth of possibilities, from culinary treats to rustic crafts and offer a much needed winter food source to wildlife.Read more60 days ago -
Winter rose care: essential tips for rosesAs winter settles in, it's important to think about how to care for your roses during the colder months. While roses are hardy plants, they will perform better with a little extra attention, helping them to flourish when spring arrives. Roses should be pruned in winter, ideally in January or February, when the plant is most dormant, but there are other steps you can take now to ensure your roses remain healthy and strong throughout the chillier months.Read more26 days ago -
The perfect gifts for gardeners this ChristmasWith Christmas around the corner, many of us are looking to find that special gift that will bring warmth and joy to those we love. If you have a gardening enthusiast in your life, why not give them something that truly resonates with their passion for nature?Read more32 days ago -
How to look after a rose until you're ready to plantReceiving a rose as a gift is always a lovely surprise. But if you're not quite ready to plant it just yet, you may be wondering how to look after it in the meantime. Whether it’s a bare root rose or a potted one, there are a few simple steps you can follow to keep your rose healthy and happy until you’re ready to give it a new home in your garden. Here's how to care for your rose until it’s time to plant.Read moreToday -
Thomas à Becket® (Auswinston): The rose with a connection to Canterbury CathedralAs Christmas approaches and we decorate our homes and gardens with festive cheer, it’s a good time to think about the plants that add beauty and history to our outdoor spaces. One rose that stands out is Thomas à Becket® (Auswinston), a variety that brings a touch of tradition and elegance to any garden.Read moreToday -
The best companion plants to pair with English roses for winter interestAs winter settles in, many gardens may seem like they’re taking a well-deserved rest, but there’s still plenty of life and beauty to be found in the colder months. English roses, with their exquisite blooms and rich fragrances, are known for brightening gardens from early summer through autumn, but their allure doesn’t have to fade when winter arrives. By pairing your roses with thoughtful companion plants, you can maintain visual interest and add seasonal charm that will make your garden a delight to behold all year long.Read more12 days ago -
How to make a Christmas wreath with rose hips: a step-by-step guideThe festive season is a time to celebrate the beauty of nature and bring a touch of the outdoors into your home. One of the most charming ways to add a natural and seasonal aspect to your Christmas décor is by making your own wreath. Rose hips, with their vibrant red and orange hues, are the perfect addition to a festive wreath that captures the essence of an English winter garden.Read more12 days ago -
Creating a rustic festive table with rose hips and seasonal foliageChristmas is the perfect time to gather with loved ones, sharing good food and festive cheer around a beautifully set table. To add a rustic touch to your Christmas décor, consider using rose hips in your table arrangements. These vibrant, berry-like fruits add a seasonal feel and a natural elegance that fits perfectly with the spirit of the season. If you’re fortunate enough to have roses still in bloom, add a few to your arrangements for a fragrant finishing touch that captures the essence of an English winter garden.Read more19 days ago -
Eustacia Vye® (Ausegdon), a rose inspired by Hardy’s heroineThe Eustacia Vye (Ausegdon) rose, introduced in 2019, is a truly beautiful and unique addition to any garden. With soft, glowing apricot-pink blooms, each flower is full of ruffled petals that gradually open into full rosettes. As the blooms mature, its colour fades from rich apricot to paler tones, adding a sense of delicate beauty. Held on striking, red-tinged stems, this rose has a strong, fruity fragrance that fills the air.Read more21 days ago
