Old Rose with single white petals

13 years ago

Hi, I am looking for an identification of another rose bush that I have. This rose bush was growing on our place when we bought it in 1981. I was told that it was just a mock rose and not worth much so tried to get rid of it. However on a visit my mother-in-law discovered a piece of it growing near our tool shed and had my son help her fasten it to the wall of our tool shed. I didn't have the heart to tell her that I had been told to get rid of it when she very proudly told me that she had fastened the rose bush to the tool shed with my son's help. So it won the "War of the Roses". Since then I have been told to get rid of it by at least one other person but refuse to do so as it looks nice and has grown into quite a beautiful bush.

This rose has single petaled blooms in early June, only blooms once each year and the blooms last for about 2 weeks. Once the blooms have gone it forms small rose hips that turn red. They will stay on this bush usually until spring at which time the robins come along and eat them.

I was told to get rid of it as it was invasive and yet we have lived here for 30 years and it only grows in a few places where I have allowed it to grow. I am not trying to dig it out all the time.

I would love to find out what it is and whether I should be considering getting rid of it or not. I have posted photos on flicker and will post a link to them so you can see what it looks like. I am sorry but the only photo I could find of the rose hips is one with snow.

Here is a link that might be useful: Single Petal White Rose

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Comments (13)

linjon zone 5
Original Author
13 years ago
I wanted to also mention this rose bush does have thorns they seem to me to be small ones about 3" apart. I have posted a photo of them on flicker.

Here is a link that might be useful: Thorns and a few rose hips
lavender_lass
13 years ago
It looks a little like my Trier rose, but that repeats. Maybe a wild rose? It's very pretty...let us know what you find out :)
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jerijen
13 years ago
It LOOKS like R. multiflora, but mind -- I've never actually SEEN R. multiflora -- only multiflora hybrids.
Very pretty, isn't it?

Are there any leaves remaining on the plant?
I'd like to see the stipule.

Jeri
roseseek
13 years ago
It looks very much like multiflora to me. If the stipules are fringed, it's a definite sign that if it isn't the species itself, it's at least closely related. There are MANY very good reasons for getting this out of your garden ASAP, but it IS your garden, your plant and your choice. Whatever you decide is right for you. Kim

Here is a link that might be useful: Multiflora on HMF
carol6ma_7ari
13 years ago
Looks like our local r. multiflora which grows on the sides of the roads here, but I like it and do keep it.

Carol
linjon zone 5
Original Author
13 years ago
I'm afraid there are no leaves left on the bush. Right now we have about a foot of snow on everything so it will be awhile before leaves start to come out. I don't really know what you mean by the "stipule". I don't really know a lot about roses and have just been keeping what I have going. I have added some other roses but those are on the other side of the yard from where this one is. It is quite pretty and I have seen it growing along our roadways also. I have been reading quite a bit about growing roses this winter and trying to learn as much about it as I can.
luxrosa
13 years ago
Two of the ways I identify R. multiflora is by looking closely at the petals, which are squared off in a flat edge at each petal tip, which is not typical of most roses which come to a point at the petal tip.
-The scent of the roses of R. multiflora is not as sweet as most roses smell to me, and I detect the scent of green apples and pineapple in R. multiflora blossoms

Lux.
User
13 years ago
Rosa multiflora, I am 99.5% sure of that. In many states it is regarded as a noxious weed, capable of spreading by seed and eating up real estate. The government went as far as introducing a virus to eradicate it decades ago, it was considered to be such a pest. It can be a very pretty plant if used properly, but you may want to contact your county Ag agent and find out what their stance is regarding garden cultivation of the species.
roseseek
13 years ago
Where the leaf attaches to the cane there are little growths on either side of the leaf stem. Rosa Multiflora has fringed growth there. Most have just the plain stem, some have solid wings. This is not multiflora, but it is a first generation hybrid and demonstrates what I'm talking about. When your plant leafs out, take a look and see if you find a fringed growth on either side of the leaf stem where it attaches to the cane. If you do, what you have is either the species itself or a very close hybrid of it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Ladyfingers on HMF, photo of fringed stipules
anntn6b
13 years ago
It is R. multiflora. In addition to the identifiers above, multiflora blooms seldom keep their yellow anthers for more than a day, and yours shows the browning of the anthers.

You wrote"I was told to get rid of it as it was invasive and yet we have lived here for 30 years and it only grows in a few places where I have allowed it to grow". That's not exactly the whole story All those lovely red hips are major fodder for birds and those birds don't have gizzards so the seeds pass through undigested. They may not be deposited on your property; but they are out there, for miles around you. The real hidden 'gotcha' it that the seeds remain viable in the soil for at least twenty years.

You do have Rose Rosette in areas upwind of New York state, and multiflora can get sick with RRD out in the country and not be noticed. But from there it does spread into gardens with desirable roses

Your decision.

Here is a link that might be useful: Rose Rosette e-book
jerijen
13 years ago
Thank you Kim -- I knew I must have an image somewhere, but yours is poifect.
Aren't those fringed stipules fascinating?
I love the shapes. :-)

Jeri
roseseek
13 years ago
You're welcome Jeri. I thought I had one, also, but Ladyfingers, being a direct descendant, sufficed. They definitely make identifying the species and offspring much easier. Kim
clanross
13 years ago
Looks just like the Multiflora hedge I have. I know everyone is supposed to hate multiflora, but it smells wonderful. I used to make "nests" to play in under huge old bushes when I was little.