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History and Description
The multi-flora rose, an ornamental shrub, is originally from Japan, Korea, and
Eastern China. The Multi-flora rose is a thorny shrub with arching stems. The
leaves have from five to eleven sharply toothed leaflets. In May to June, white
to pink flowers appear. Each flower is about an inch across. During the summer,
red fruits develop.
Uses
Because it can form dense thickets, it is perfect for hedges, screens, living
fences, ground cover, and soil erosion control. It is also used in highway
medians to buffer impacts.
Reproduction
The multi-flora rose can reproduce a couple of ways. Primarily, the
rose reproduces by seeds, often dispersed by birds. In addition, new plants can
form from the tips of arching canes that contact the ground.
Ecological
Threat
Multi-flora rose is an ecological threat because it is extremely hardy. It can
thrive in various soils, in different light conditions, and with varying amounts
of water. These adaptations allow it to thrive and form dense thickets that
exclude native plants.
Control
The best defenses to control the Multi-flora rose is to not let them get
started. Keep a well-managed pasture. Apply fertilizer and lime to the area.
Plant seeds to gain vegetative covering. Practice proper grazing techniques.
A natural control is the Rose Rosetta disease.
Mites spread the virus to the plant. The mites move from one plant to another
and invade the root system. The plant and its roots will die within two years
after being infected.
A last
resort is the use of herbicides. Careful treatment should be done so native
plants species aren’t harmed in the process.
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