BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Rosa multiflora | Multiflora Rose 



GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : 
Multiflora rose is an introduced, long-lived, perennial shrub which
grows 6.5 to 10 feet (2-3 m) tall and 10 to 14 feet (3-4 m) wide.  The
shrub is generally erect for the first 6 to 10 feet (2-3 m), above which
the stems droop to the soil [11,14].  The stems are spiny and have
compound leaves of five to seven leaflets approximately 1.5 inches (4
cm) long and 0.5 to 1.5 inches (0.8-3.5 cm) wide [11,22].


RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM : 
   Phanerophyte
   Chamaephyte
   Geophyte


REGENERATION PROCESSES : 
Sexual reproduction:  Multiflora rose begins flowering and producing
seed at 2 to 5 years of age.  The seeds are dispersed by birds and
mammals [5,7,13].  They require stratification for 30 to 120 days in
order to effect germination.  Seeds may remain viable in the soil for 10
or more years [25].

Vegetative reproduction:  Multiflora rose spreads vegetatively through
layering, root suckering, and rhizomes [5,14].


SITE CHARACTERISTICS : 
Multiflora rose is commonly found on marginal sites or poorly managed
agricultural lands and tolerates adverse site conditions [14,15,16].  It
is found with greater frequency on acidic soils, but will establish on
all soils except those that are poorly drained.  It favors disturbed or
open sites and aggressively colonizes streambanks, field edges,
pastures, and reclaimed strip mines [15,16].  Multiflora rose is also
found on prairies and savannahs [20,24].

Climate:  Multiflora rose flourishes in climates of moderate rainfall,
long summers, and short winters [19].


SUCCESSIONAL STATUS : 
Obligate Initial Community Species

Multiflora rose is an aggressive colonizer of disturbed sites, open
pastures, streambanks, and pond edges [14,18,20,25].  It is not shade
tolerant, and persists only where moderate to full sunlight is
available [5].  Multiflora rose is commonly found in second-growth
forests [1].    



SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT : 
Multiflora rose generally flowers from early May to late July.  Fruits
mature in summer to late fall.  They persist on the plant until the
following spring [10,14].

Related categories for Species: Rosa multiflora | Multiflora Rose