Rosa multiflora Thunb. f. watsoniana (Crép.) Matsum.
Rosa watsoniana Crép.
Rosa multiflora Thunb.
Multiflora rose, rambling rose, baby rose, Japanese rose, many-flowered rose, seven-sisters rose
Multiflora rose is a wild rose native to eastern Asia, Japan, China, and Korea. It was introduced to North America as an ornamental plant, and for soil conservation. It has since become naturalized and widespread, and is often considered an invasive species.
Plants: This rose is a fast-growing shrub that overtakes other plants, growing to a height of 9½–16′ (3–5 m). It has strong, thorny stems, with thorns that are curved backward.
Leaves: Roughly oval in shape, with sharply toothed edges, 1¾–4″ (5–10 cm) long, in groups of 5-11 (usually 9).
Flowers: Abundant, attractive white or pinkish flowers, about ½–1½″ (1.5–4 cm) in diameter, with five petals and yellow centers. While many rose species produce single flowers or small groups, this rose produces large corymbs (flower clusters).
Fruits: Later in the season it develops “rose hips,” orange-red to purplish fruits ⅛–¼″ (6–8 mm) across that are fairly hard, like apples.
Habitats: Any open area with medium moisture: roadsides, abandoned pastures, open woodlands, thickets.
See this wild rose comparison guide for further information.
Online References:
Rosa cathayensis (Rehder & Wilson) L.H. Bailey
Rosa multiflora Thunb. f. watsoniana (Crép.) Matsum.
Rosa watsoniana Crép.
Rosa multiflora Thunb. f. watsoniana (Crép.) Matsum.
Rosa watsoniana Crép.
6/1/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 15 × 10″ (39 × 26 cm) 
6/5/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm) 
6/8/2012 · Townsend Wildlife Management Area, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 3″ (11 × 7.9 cm) 
5/27/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 14 cm) 
10/1/2024 · Maquoit Bay, Brunswick, Maine 
This plant is infected with rose rosette disease (RRD), a virus which causes new growth to be red and bizarre branching patterns called "witches broom." It eventually kills the plant and is transmissible to cultivated roses. · 3/2/2011 · Susan and Raimond’s, Phoenix, Arizona · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm) 
6/10/2021 · Otter Brrok Preserve, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm) 
5/26/2026 · Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve, Cold Springs, New York · ≈ 10 × 7″ (25 × 17 cm) 
3/2/2011 · Susan and Raimond’s, Phoenix, Arizona · ≈ 7 × 11″ (18 × 27 cm) 
6/5/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 cm) 
This plant is infected with rose rosette disease (RRD), a virus which causes new growth to be red and bizarre branching patterns called "witches broom." It eventually kills the plant and is transmissible to cultivated roses. · 3/14/2012 · Susan and Raimond’s, Phoenix, Maryland · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm) 
This plant is infected with rose rosette disease (RRD), a virus which causes new growth to be red and bizarre branching patterns called "witches broom." It eventually kills the plant and is transmissible to cultivated roses. · 5/4/2017 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm) 
11/7/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 2½ × 3″ (6.2 × 8.2 cm) 
6/19/2024 · Red Rose Preserve, Bowdoinham, Maine · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm) 
This plant is infected with rose rosette disease (RRD), a virus which causes new growth to be red and bizarre branching patterns called "witches broom." It eventually kills the plant and is transmissible to cultivated roses. · 3/17/2012 · North Central Railroad Trail, End, Phoenix, Maryland · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 15 cm) 
6/21/2025 · Hawk Mountain, Waterford, Maine · ≈ 7 × 5″ (18 × 12 cm) 
5/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts · ≈ 17 × 12″ (44 × 29 cm) 
6/8/2012 · Townsend Wildlife Management Area, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 14 × 9″ (35 × 23 cm) 
5/26/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm) 
6/5/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 12 cm) 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Rosidae | Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more |
| Order | Rosales | Rose family and eight others |
| Family | Rosaceae | Includes apples, apricots, plums, cherries, peaches, pears, raspberries, strawberries, almonds, roses, meadowsweets, photinias, firethorns, rowans, and hawthorns; many others |
| Genus | Rosa | From a Latin name so old its meaning is no longer known |
| Species | multiflora | “Many-flowered” |
Rosa multiflora description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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