Rosa multiflora
Multiflora rosa
(c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · licence
Family: Rosaceae · Type: Subshrub · Not Native
Rosa multiflora (Multiflora rosa) is a non-native California subshrub in the Rosaceae family, recognized by . Key features: non-native, white flowers, many leaflets, aggressive climbing habit.
Multiflora rosa is a naturalized shrub found in northern coastal California, the Cascade Range, Sacramento Valley, and southern California coastal areas in disturbed open sites at elevations of 20 to 700 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces white flowers in clusters of 5 to 30 blooms, each flower 7 to 13 millimeters wide. Growing as a thicket-forming or climbing shrub 1.5 to 7.5 meters tall, it features curved prickles 4 to 6 millimeters long with thick bases. Its compound leaves have 7 to 9 leaflets, with the terminal leaflet 10 to 45 millimeters long, elliptic to obovate, and edged with single teeth. The fruit is a small ovoid to spheric rose hip 5 to 7 millimeters wide, with reflexed sepals and multiple small achenes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 17 sympatric species. Key features: non-native, white flowers, many leaflets, aggressive climbing habit.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Generally +- disturbed open sites
Elevation: 20-700 m
California counties: Los Angeles, San Mateo, Sutter, Butte, Siskiyou, Shasta, Glenn, Colusa
Outside California: widely naturalized in North America, native to eastern Asia
Bloom period
Rosa multiflora blooms Apr-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Camellia: Rosa has compound leaves with multiple leaflets; Camellia has single undivided glossy leaves.; vs Carpenteria: Rosa has thorny stems and compound leaves; Carpenteria is thornless with simple opposite leaves.; vs Hibiscus: Rosa has compound leaves and thorny stems; Hibiscus has simple palmate leaves, thornless.; vs Dahlia: Rosa is woody with thorns; Dahlia is herbaceous without thorns.; vs Cistus: Rosa has compound leaves with 5-9 leaflets; Cistus has simple undivided leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Rosa multiflora native to California?
No. Rosa multiflora is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Rosa multiflora bloom?
Rosa multiflora blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Rosa multiflora grow?
Rosa multiflora occurs in Los Angeles, San Mateo, Sutter, Butte, Siskiyou, Shasta, Glenn, Colusa, at elevations of 20-700 m.
What plant family does Rosa multiflora belong to?
Rosa multiflora is in the Rosaceae family, genus Rosa.
What habitat does Rosa multiflora grow in?
Rosa multiflora grows in Generally +- disturbed open sites.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.