At War With Roses

There are several different wild roses growing in our neighborhood, such as this wild Dog Rose growing on our cabin property. While most wild roses are a pleasant sight, there is one invasive rose variety that I work to eliminate ...



Multiflora Rose is an invasive species with arching branches and fragrant blossoms that bloom in the late spring. While it can be attractive while in bloom this rose can quickly take over fields and form dense thickets that crowd out other plants. On average, a multiflora rose plant produces one million seeds each year, and each of these seeds is viable in the soil for up to twenty years.



Multiflora Rose gets its name from the multiple blossoms that form at the end of each branch.



Multiflora Rose can grow to over 15 feet in height with very large thorns on the stems. These thorns are hooked and point backward like the barb on a fishhook. If you get caught in a Multiflora Rose bush, the backward hooked thorns make escape difficult.



A Multiflora Rose bush that has taken over an old McCormick-Deering reaper behind our barn.