Description
Multiflora Rose (Rosa Multiflora), despite its good qualities of providing food and shelter for birds, spreads rapidly and out-competes native plant species. It is difficult to remove due to its thorns and is almost impossible to eradicate completely.
ID
Multiflora Rose is characterized by alternate, compound leaves with thorns on branching stems. From April to June it has many small, white, fragrant flowers. Red rose hips develop from July to December.
Removal
Cut the canes at the base of the plant, and either continue cutting the new growth to hinder its spread or paint canes with Glyphosate or triclopyr, two herbicide options that will prevent new growth.
Rose rosette disease, a virus spreading by mites in the United States, has been killing dense patches of multiflora rose, but it has also negatively affected other rose species.
Diseased Multiflora Rose
Alternatives
If you have this invasive plant in your yard, and successfully remove it, there are native roses that can replace the invasive. Two options are Pasture Rose (R. Carolina) and Smooth Rose (R. blanda).