Multiflora rose is a thorny, perennial shrub with arching stems (canes), and leaves divided into five to eleven sharply toothed leaflets. The base of each leaf stalk bears a pair of fringed bracts. Beginning in May or June, clusters of showy, fragrant, white to pink flowers appear, each about an inch across. Small bright red fruits, or rose hips, develop during the summer, becoming leathery, and remain on the plant through the winter

Here is a link that might be useful: Multiflora rose

The description above seems pretty good to me. Multiflora rose is the largest rose that grows wild in most of the east. There are many species of wild rose, and some of them can grow to 6 feet or more tall, but they don't have the long arching stems of a multiflora rose. Instead they have more upright stems, are generally more prickly with more, but smaller, thorns than multiflora, and they are generally smaller in stature than multiflora. Field guides generally describe specific acpects of each plant that distinguish it from similar plants. Once you learn to ID multiflora rose with a field guide or by someone showing you what it looks like, you will quickly learn to ID them from as far away as you can see them. They are distinctive.

Thank you for the info. Judgin by your description of arching stems and relative lack of thorns, they are more than likely multiflora. I will see what I can do to remove them.

Is there something more suitable I can put in their place?

Thanks!

Jeanne

Shrubs that grow well by a creek include Virginia Sweetspire (Itea species), Hydrangea arborescens, Viburnum nudum, Yellowroot (a shrub that looks the size of a perennial).

Is it a shady spot or sunny?

Hi,

I actually have found it in both sunny and partly sunny spots. One area is in an easement and sunny, so I was thinking of putting in red twig dogwood as it will tolerate occasional cutting back. I believe the area gets cut every 3-4 years.

The other area is partly sun, more like dappled shade.

Our soil is sandy and acidic. Rhodies, azaleas and blueberries all grow wild here.

Thanks!

Jeanne

Well, Rhodies and azaleas and blueberries are certainly great plants. You can add more of those plus some new things. Clethra is also a plant that tolerates wet conditions and would bloom wonderfully in the summer with sun.

Amidst a dead multiflora rose bush, there is growing a vine or possibly a branch(I do have a Picture of it)growing amidst the dead bush with the strangest growth coming out of it. Kinda looks like green fringes about 2-3" apart, the branch does not have thornes. It does seem to be growing from or through the roots of the dead multiflora. Thus is is not possible to get to the root of it. The dead bush is huge...
I do not find any,elsewhere, other that amidst the dead rose?
What is it??

One photo of the multiflora rose mentioned in this thread.

Close up of the rose growth

I don't know what that is in the photo but it's not multiflora rose.

It looks like an elderberry shoot

jcs, red-osier dogwood is a great plant, and one I use quite often. But one caveat for your area: You said acidic, sandy soil, and this is simply not this plant's preferred situation, it actually preferring calcareous, circum-neutral soils. Still may be worth a shot but I don't want you to be disappointed by less than satisfying performance of this plant. I happen to live in the very heart of this plant's home range and even when I've moved it just 60 miles north-to an area having conditions more like your own-I was surprised at its rather poor growth. It still exists up there, but is not at all what it is just this little distance away.

+oM