Vascular Plants of North Carolina
Account for Multiflora Rose - Rosa multiflora   Thunberg
Members of Rosaceae:
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Section 6 » Order Rosales » Family Rosaceae
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AuthorThunberg
DistributionThroughout the state; soon to be documented from every county. First collected in NC by Harry Ahles in 1956 in Vance County and in 1958 by Al Radford in Jones County.

Native of China and Japan; in N.A. essentially throughout the U.S. and southern Canada.
AbundanceFrequent to common across the state. Has expanded its NC range rapidly since the 1980s, in part spread by birds, which eat the hips. Of concern in many states and provinces, due to its aggressive replacement of native flora.
HabitatMesic to moist soil of thickets, woodlands, bottomlands, roadsides, fields, meadows, vacant lots, disturbed soil. Unlike most of the other exotic roses, this one often grows well into shade.
PhenologyFlowering May-June; fruiting September-October.
IdentificationMultiflora Rose's name is a very good clue to its identity: flowers and fruits are produced in numbers (5-30 or so) in a branched panicle. The white flowers are small, nearly 1 inch across, fragrant. The plant forms multi-stemmed thickets. Memorial Rose (R. lucieae) is similar but has larger flowers and tends to creep along or close to the ground.
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Other Common Name(s)
State RankSE
Global RankGNR
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B.A. SorrieRoadside edge of woods, Whispering Pines, April 2015. MoorePhoto_non_natural
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