WEED ROSES — PESTS OF PASTURE, ORCHARD, 
AND RANGE 
Like any plant growing where it is not wanted, roses become weeds when they 
escape control and spread in meadow, range, orchard, or woodland to the detriment 
of cultivated crops or desired native plants. 
Although not major national pests, four roses have become serious weeds to 
many farmers and stockmen. Without control, they could rapidly overrun large 
areas. The weed roses and areas in which they are spreading are Macartney rose 
in southeastern Texas and parts of other Gulf States, Cherokee rose in numerous 
areas of the Gulf States, multiflora rose in many areas east of the Mississippi, and 
Woods rose in some sections of the Northwest and higher elevations in the South- 
west. 
The tendency of weed roses to spread rapidly results’ from a combination of 
factors. The roses are prolific producers of viable seed. Birds and other animals 
eat the rose hips (fruit) and scatter the seed widely by regurgitation and defeca- 
tion. In addition, both Macartney and Cherokee roses layer readily, contributing 
to the spread of these species. All weed roses grow back after mowing. And their 
thorny canes discourage animals from grazing on them. 
Weed roses have a number of characteristics which make them obnoxious when 
out of place. Their thorns make harvesting of orchards, timber, or forage crops 
difficult and sometimes painful. They compete with more desirable crops for space, 
soil nutrients, and moisture. They impede the use of machinery for pasture man- 
agement. They grow around margins of ponds, making access difficult, and tend to 
clog irrigation canals. Infestations spread rapidly and increase in severity unless 
controlled. Established stands cannot be controlled by mechanical means alone. 
They are best controlled with the aid of herbicides, which sometimes cannot be 
used because they would damage adjacent plants or because they are not cleared 
for use on food or feed crops. 
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE INDIVIDUAL ROSES 
When weed roses invade new areas, they may not be recognized as a potentially 
serious threat until they have gained a foothold. Unfortunately, it is much more 
difficult to control infestations after they have become established. Control meas- 
ures are discussed on pages 3-5. 
Here are brief descriptions of the weed roses and how they spread: 
Multiflora Rose 
Multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora Thunb.) is the most recent addition to the list 
of roses that sometimes are weeds. Beginning in the early forties, planting of multi- 
flora rose for use as an attractive “living fence’ and wildlife cover was started with 
approval of agricultural leaders. From the viewpoint of some conservationists and 
farmers, the value of multiflora for these purposes still outweighs its weak charac- 
teristics. However, a hedge that one farmer prizes as a border surrounding his 
cultivated fields could well be a pest to a neighbor whose pasture, orchard, or pond 
border is becoming infested. And some farmers who planted multiflora fences and 
were originally pleased with them are finding the control problem greater than 
anticipated. 
