Controlling Multifloral Rose in Michigan

Multifloral rose is native to Eastern Asia and was initially brought to the U.S. in the mid 1800’s as rootstock for ornamental roses. It was promoted in the 1930’s, by the U.S. Soil Conservation Service for several reasons:

• Erosion control
• “Living” fences for pastured animals
• Wildlife habitat
• Crash barriers for highway medians

Description

Multifloral rose is a perennial shrub with long branches. It can grow up to 10-15 feet tall and 9-13 feet around. It has fringed stipules at the leaf base and pinnately compound leaves with 5-11 leaflets. In late May to June, it will get white/pink flowers. The rose hips will stay on throughout the winter.
Highly Invasive Potential

• Up to 17,500 seeds per large cane (stalk, branch); a single plant can produce as many as 500,000 seeds per year
• Those seeds each have a 90% viability rate
• Seeds can remain viable up to 20 years
• Birds and mammals can spread the seeds
• Stem tips will root when they come in contact with the ground

Multiflora’s Effects on our Environment

• Forms impenetrable dense masses
• Overtakes the natural vegetation in prairies, woodland, forest edges, pastures and roadsides.
• Outcompetes native shrubs and herbs
• Reduces native plant and wildlife diversity
• Detrimental to nesting of native birds
• Impacts agriculture (degrades forage quality and reduces grazing area)

Controlling Multifloral Rose

To control multifloral rose it is best to use both mechanical and chemical methods. Even with this two-pronged approach, multifloral rose will still be difficult to completely eradicate.

Mechanical Methods

• Mowing 3 to 6 times during the growing season can reduce the population, if it’s done for multiple years in a row
• Digging and pulling the roots and root crown could be effective to eliminate small individual plants
• Using a chain to remove the plant base; then keeping it mowed, could also help

Chemical Methods

• Foliar treatments are most effective when applied in late spring or early summer (April-June), between the bud and bloom stage.
• Applying glyphosate to flowering or budding plants is effective
• Cut-stump treatments with glyphosate are effective late in the growing season (July-September) and during the dormant season - with dormant season application preferred to minimize harm to non-target species.
• For almost complete control, metsulfron methyl can be used throughout most of the growing season
• Basal bark treatments are best applied from late December to early April before leaf bud expansion.
• Triclopyr applied to cut stems is best done in the dormant season to reduce damage to non-target species.
• Some herbicides can be effective throughout the growing season, but early to mid-June during full leaf-out is considered an excellent time for application.

It's important to note that the effectiveness of herbicide applications can be influenced by factors such as drought, extreme temperatures, and rainfall shortly after treatment. When using herbicides, carefully choose your products based on your site conditions. Always follow the label directions.

Early detection, and response, is essential for control of multifloral rose. Combining mechanical and chemical controls will lead to the best results. It’s important to remember, that controlling multifloral rose will require a long-term commitment due to its persistent seed bank. There must be follow-up mechanical and chemical treatments to control the surviving plants and any new seedlings.