Multiflora Rose (EwA Guide to Common Invasive Species in Middlesex County (MA, US) )

Multiflora Rose

Rosa Multiflora

Summary ⁶

Rosa multiflora (syn. Rosa polyantha) is a species of rose known commonly as multiflora rose, baby rose, Japanese rose, many-flowered rose, seven-sisters rose, and Eijitsu rose. It is native to eastern Asia, in China, Japan and Korea. It should not be confused with Rosa rugosa, which is also known as "Japanese rose", or with polyantha roses which are garden cultivars derived from hybrids of R. multiflora.

Short Description ⁷

Thorny, multi-stemmed shrub or climbing vine with arching stems that grow to be 1.5 to 3.5 m (5-12 ft) tall. Leaves are pinnately divided into 5 to 11 elliptical, toothed leaflets, each up to one inch long. Flowers are white to pink, fragrant, and can be in large clusters. The fruits are bright red rose hips that form in summer, turn leathery, and often persist over winter.

Source: EwA Invasive Pocket Fieldguide | © Earthwise Aware

Description ⁸

Shrubs climbing. Branchlets terete, usually glabrous; prickles paired below leaves, sometimes sparsely scattered, curved, to 6 mm, stout, flat, gradually tapering to broad base. Leaves including petiole 5–10 cm; stipules pectinate, mostly adnate to petiole, margin glandular-pubescent or not; rachis and petiole pubescent or glabrous, glandular-pubescent, shortly prickly; leaflets (3–)5–9, obovate, oblong, or ovate, 1–5 × 0.8–2.8 cm, abaxially pubescent, adaxially glabrous, base rounded or cuneate, margin simply serrate, apex acute or rounded-obtuse. Flowers numerous in corymb, 1.5–4 cm in diam.; pedicel 1.5–2.5 cm, puberulous, glabrous, or glandular-pubescent, margin sometimes pectinate; bracts at base of pedicel, small. Hypanthium subglobose, glabrous. Sepals 5, deciduous, lanceolate, abaxially glabrous, adaxially pubescent, margin entire or with 2 linear lobes at middle. Petals 5, semi-double or double, white, pinkish, or pink (in some cultivated plants), fragrant, obovate, base cuneate, apex emarginate. Styles connate in column, exserted, slightly longer than stamens, glabrous. Hip red-brown or purple-brown, subglobose, 6–8 mm in diam., glabrous, shiny. 2n = 14*, 21.

⭕ Control Methods (EwA Content) ⁹

To effectively manage the invasion of garlic mustard, it is advised to utilize a multifaceted approach. Early intervention has proven to be the most effective strategy for eradicating populations. Central to controlling infestations is the meticulous management of this species over a span of several years (c). Furthermore, the strategic planting and diligent monitoring of vigorous, competitive vegetation greatly enhance the efficacy of control efforts (a).

Mechanical Treatment

For young and small infestations, manually pulling individual plants from the ground and ensuring the entire root is extracted effectively prevents re-sprouting (d).

Mowing 3-6 times per season over multiple years depletes root food reserves, eventually killing plants (b, d). It might take four years to control over 90% of the population by defoliation (c, d). Mowing can also facilitate herbicide application (a). Remember that repeated mowing comes with cost and labor implications (b).

For heavy infestations, heavy equipment excavation is effective, but removing all roots with shoot buds is critical. In addition, In addition, it is essential to monitor and manage the presence of shoots while systematically addressing any regrowth. In densely infested areas, thorough excavation to remove the root systems may be necessary for effective eradication (b).

Biological control

Biological control strategies can be implemented through herbivory or the introduction of pathogen targeting the Rose genus. Additionally, three insects hold promise for future biological control methods (b, c).

Grazing goats and sheep have been found to be effective in controlling multiflora rose. Goats are more effective than sheep and have been used for weed control in various landscapes, including pastures, rangelands, and forests (c). The best time to start management with grazing is during spring and early summer. However, initiating grazing after the start of August proves ineffective. It typically requires several grazing seasons to kill bushes and manage the species effectively. For enhanced results, grazing should be integrated with other control methods, such as herbicide application or rotary mowing before grazing, to weaken the brush effectively (d).

Although three insects show potential for biological control—the Tortricid hip borer (Family Tortricidae), rose seed chalcid (Megastigmus aculeatus), and raspberry cane borer (Oberea bimaculata)–their natural populations are insufficient to achieve significant biological control (b).

An Emaravirus responsible for causing Rose rosette disease presents significant potential for biological control. This disease is transmitted by an eriophyid mite (Phyllocoptes fructiphilus), commonly found on roses throughout most parts of the U.S. (d). Multiflora rose plants afflicted with this disease typically succumb within two years. The initial symptom manifests as a vibrant mosaic pattern featuring bright red and dark red hues on new leaves, appearing within 30 days of the initial infection. Over two years post-infection, the entire plant, including its root system, dies (b).

Chemical Treatment^⚠

Foliar, cut-stem, and basal bark herbicide applications, which facilitate the translocation of active ingredients into the root system, have been identified as highly effective methods (c). However, it is important to note that herbicides may not consistently achieve complete plant eradication. Therefore, integrating mechanical treatments alongside herbicide applications can significantly enhance control effectiveness (d).

Foliar application → Foliar spraying is effective on seedlings and larger plants; apply herbicide during the growing season, from spring leaf development to fall senescence (c, d). Foliar applications commonly use skid-mounted, modified field sprayers or powered field sprayers (d). Complete foliage coverage is crucial; apply herbicides until they run off the leaves (b). Spray from both sides of the row to better control dense hedgerow infestations (d).

Cut-stem treatment → Cut-stump herbicide treatment can kill roots and crowns after cutting large rose plants near ground level. This method is better for removing a few multiflora rose and other brushy species from a property (d).

Basal bark treatment → Effective on mature plants, they can be applied in late fall when other understory plants are dormant (c). Basal bark treatments offer advantages over other methods: they're cost-effective, pose a low risk to nearby plants, and ensure more consistent control than foliar applications (b). Most low-pressure hand sprayers with a single-nozzle wand are suitable in this case (d). Apply herbicide mixed with diesel fuel or kerosene to the lowest 45 to 60 cm (18-24 in) of stem and crown of plants. If possible, treat multiflora rose bushes from multiple sides (d). Treatments must be administered for several growing seasons until the population is under control (c).

Soil treatment → Soil-applied herbicides (in liquid, granule, or pellet forms), applied within the plant's drip line, offer residual control for two months to two years. Apply scattered dry herbicides or undiluted liquids underneath the bush, 15 to 20 cm (6-8 in) from the base (b). The amount used depends on the multiflora rose plant or clump diameter. This treatment is a good option for scattered roses on steep terrain and follow-up treatments (d). However, nearby non-target species, especially on slopes, may be affected if herbicides move or roots overlap. Timing varies with specific herbicides (b).

Herbicides→ Several herbicide types are effective against multiflora rosa. Consider the site conditions to choose the best one (b, c).

For more information on types of herbicides, concentrations, application methods, and treatment schedules, visit the following website: https://extension.psu.edu/multiflora-rose-management-in-grass-pastures-an-integrated-approach.

⚠ Disclaimers

Disclaimer #1: Harmless chemicals do not exist. Any chemical use is likely to harm non-target species and affect the soil. However, in some circumstances, chemicals might be the only way to succeed in removing an invasive species permanently. Researching and understanding the latest scientific literature before using a specific chemical or a mix of several is critical to reducing negative impact.

Disclaimer #2: Independently, several European countries recently announced future bans or massive restrictions on the use of glyphosate (e.g., Austria, Germany, France). The EU, at large, is expected to decide on the renewal of the approval of glyphosate Ultimo 2023 (More here).

Sources

[a] - Managing Multiflora Rose. Available in: https://plantscience.psu.edu/research/projects/wildland-weed-management/publications/working-lands-factsheets/multiflora-rose
[b] - Multiflora Rose Management in Grass Pastures (An Integrated Approach), 1996; Available in: https://extension.psu.edu/multiflora-rose-management-in-grass-pastures-an-integrated-approach
[c] - Multiflora Rose. Available in: https://www.mda.state.mn.us/plants/pestmanagement/weedcontrol/noxiouslist/multiflorarose
[d] - Multiflora Rose Control, 2005; Available in: https://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/references/public/RI/MFRose_b857_OhioState.pdf

Sources and Credits

(c) Claire O'Neill, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/119865393
(c) Claire O'Neill, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Claire O'Neill, https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/143650870
(c) Claire O'Neill, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Claire O'Neill, https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110525214
(c) Bill MacIndewar, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Bill MacIndewar, https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61909451
(c) mamiles, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by mamiles, https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/76371261
Adapted by Claire O'Neill from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosa_multiflora
(c) Claire O'Neill, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
Adapted by Claire O'Neill from a work by (c) Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/4968632
Adapted by Esther Meirelles from a work by (c) Claire O'Neill, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

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Multiflora Rose

Summary 6

Short Description 7

Description 8

⭕ Control Methods (EwA Content) 9