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Multiflora Rose
Rosa
multiflora
Identification
Multiflora rose is a thorny perennial shrub with arching stems
arising from clumps and arching out and toward the ground around the
central clump. The arching main stems are covered with hard, curved,
very sharp thorns. The alternately arranged leaves are pinnately
compound with five or more leaflets with sharply toothed margins.
The flowers are somewhat showy, fragrant, and are light pink to
white in color. The seeds or “hips” are small, red in color, and
remain on the plant throughout the winter. The arching stems often
root where they touch the ground, giving rise to new plants.
Origin
Japan, Korea, and Eastern China
Habitat
Highly tolerant of a variety of soil and light conditions.
Multiflora rose can survive in quite shady conditions in dense
woods, and grows very prolifically in riparian areas and old fields.
It has the ability to climb trees in some places to reach for
sunlight. Seeds have the ability to remain viable in the ground for
up to twenty years. When a disturbance such as a blow down or
logging occurs, these seeds germinate and begin growing in the new
sunlight.
Ecological Threat
Multiflora rose grows and spreads very quickly in good conditions,
covering the ground and displacing native herbaceous species and
shrubs. Trees in an infested area are in danger of damage from
climbing stems weighing the tree down or breaking it down under the
excessive weight. Although it was once considered a “conservation
plant” and promoted for erosion control, living fences, and wildlife
cover and food, it forms impassable thickets, stopping regeneration
of native plants and trees and destroying native habitat for
wildlife. The highly viable seeds are consumed by birds and spread
great distances.
Multiflora rose is very hard to control once it has become
established.
It causes problems for farmers by invading crop and pastureland. It
invades riparian areas and causes damage to native riparian buffer
trees and shrubs, causing water quality concerns. Forestry practices
are interrupted by it as well, because the multiflora rose covers
the forest floor quickly after a disturbance such as logging and
preventing tree regeneration.
Recommended Native Alternatives
-
Pasture rose
(Rosa carolina)
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Swamp rose (Rosa
palustris)
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Flowering
raspberry (Rubus odoratus)
These pages are designed to give the
layperson a general overview of non-native invasive plants commonly
found in the upper Hiwassee River watershed. For more comprehensive
and technical information about a particular species, visit one of
the web sites from our
Links
page.
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