The Breed Of Rose That's Actually An Invasive Weed You'll Want To Avoid

Roses are the quintessential garden flower, with bloom-covered shrubs and climbing vines bringing beauty and fragrance to your space. Unfortunately, while most roses are perfect for cultivating in landscapes and gardens, multiflora roses (Rosa multiflora) are an invasive plant you should never grow in the United States, and their sale is actually banned in many states. Identifying and removing these aggressive rambling roses benefits the environment and your garden, and it gives you space to plant more appropriate rose varieties.

Multiflora roses, like so many invasive species, were initially brought to the United States in the 1800s for use as ornamental plants and for erosion control. They were also used as rootstock to graft other roses onto. Considering how lovely its clusters of pink and white flowers are, it isn't surprising that the multiflora rose appealed to gardeners. Unfortunately, the plant can quickly take over an area, thanks to its prolific and long-lived seeds and ability to root from its canes if they touch soil. It quickly forms dense thickets where little else can grow, threatening native ecosystems and taking over gardens. 

It is important to correctly identify multiflora roses, as no one wants to accidentally remove noninvasive roses. Multiflora roses have a rambling or climbing habit and can have either white or pink flowers with yellow pollen. One of the best ways to tell multiflora roses from other rose species, including native ones, is by looking at the canes. Multiflora roses have bright olive canes that keep their color year-round.

Once you've confirmed that your beautiful flower is a multiflora rose, it's time to start safely removing the invasive plant species from your garden. Because many multiflora roses have sharp thorns, be sure to wear heavy garden gloves that protect not just your hands, but also your arms, when working with the plants. Small plants can be pulled or dug up, while larger plants can be mowed down or treated with herbicides. Because seeds can survive in the soil for years before germinating, you may need to continue removing seedlings for a while before your garden is entirely free of multiflora roses.

Once you've finally succeeded in removing your multiflora rose, you may find yourself missing its beautiful flowers and impressive climbing ability. Luckily, there are plenty of other roses to grow, including climbing roses, that are absolutely stunning and won't take over your garden or harm the environment. One of the best alternatives to the multiflora rose is the beautiful swamp rose (Rosa palustris), which is native to the Eastern United States and Canada and thrives in moist soils in Zones 4 through 9. Not only does the swamp rose climb, but it even has white open flowers, much like multiflora roses. 

Another wonderful substitute for the multiflora rose is the smooth rose (Rosa blanda). It too has open flowers, generally in shades of pink, and thrives in moist soil. While this rose isn't a climber, it has a shrubby habit and largely thornless canes and can thrive in Zones as cold as 2b. 

When considering native roses, don't forget about the gorgeous Virginia rose (Rosa virginiana). Hardy in Zones 3 through 8, this rose has cup-like pink flowers and thrives in sunny locations with well-draining soil. It is far more tolerant of dry soil than either the swamp rose or the smooth rose.