Rosa multiflora – Wild Rose

Native to Japan and Korea, but sometimes found here in the wild as a garden escape, Rosa multiflora is a vigorous, rambling, deciduous rose which can form a large shrub or scramble up a tree. The thick, smooth, arching stems have many recurved thorns to help the rose climb. The dull green leaves are navided into 7-9 leaflets. In May and June, masses of small, white (occasionally pink), lightly-scented flowers are clustered into conical corymbs; these are followed by tiny, round, red hips. The many-flowered rose can be trained up a tree, and can also be used for a stock-proof, flowering hedge.

Site: Tolerates exposure, including coastal exposure
Soil: Any well-drained soil, preferably humus-rich; even very poor soils
Position: Full sun or partial shade
Season of interest: Late spring, early summer and autumn
Hardiness: Fully hardy
Height: 16’ (5m) Spread: 6’6” (2m)