ArborActive Tree Care Guide
How to Control Multiflora Rose in CT, MA & RI
By ArborActive Team · Updated
A few seedlings can be pulled. A mature thicket needs room to work and a plan for the crowns that survive cutting.
Identify the plant
Rosa multiflora. Look for arching prickly canes, clusters of small white flowers and small red hips. Fringed stipules where the leaf stalk meets the stem help distinguish it from other roses.
University of Connecticut Extension multiflora rose factsheetChoose a control method
Start with the size of the patch, what you want to preserve and whether the site is near water.
Small patches
Dig or pull young plants, including the root crown. Check where long canes touch soil because they can root there. Use care around thorns and identify native roses before clearing a mixed edge.
Established infestations
Repeated mowing or cutting can suppress regrowth where the site can tolerate it. Mechanical clearing opens a thicket for access, but surviving crowns can send up new shoots. A qualified applicator can evaluate selective treatment for surviving crowns or regrowth.
Keep it from coming back
Check both the original crowns and the edges for new plants. Look under nearby perches where birds may deposit seeds. Plan how to protect or establish desirable vegetation after opening a thicket.
Check local requirements
Before moving plant material, working near water or using an herbicide, check the rules for your property. Use only products labeled for the plant and site, and follow the label. Ask the local authority about disposal.
Connecticut invasive plant list
Check the current regional guidance before work.
Connecticut invasive plant listMassachusetts prohibited plant list
Check the current regional guidance before work.
Massachusetts prohibited plant listRhode Island invasive species resources
Check the current regional guidance before work.
Rhode Island invasive species resources
Common questions
Is brush mowing enough?
It can make a dense patch accessible. Check for shoots from the crowns afterward and budget time for repeated control.
Ask ArborActive about your property
Send your town, the approximate patch size and a photo of the suspected multiflora rose. Mention nearby water and plants you want to keep.