Common Name: Japanese Rose

General Information

Rosa multiflora is a wide-spreading, prickly deciduous shrub prodcing a cluster of erect to arching or scrambling stems that can climb into the surrounding vegetation, supporting themselves by means of their prickles.The stems can be up to 7 metres long[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is often grown as an ornamental, where it can be used to make a hedge.
Rosa multiflora was introduced in North America as an ornamental, and seedlings were widely provided by the U.S. Soil Conservation Service for growing hedgerows and similar plantings where it thrived in more acidic soil east of the Rocky Mountains. The species invaded pastures, degraded forage quality, reduced grazing area and agricultural productivity, and was widely reported as a noxious weed, causing, for instance, severe eye and skin irritations in cattle. The USDA Forest Service reported in 2006 that in 31 states the species had become a major conservation issue[].

Known Hazards

There is a layer of hairs around the seeds just beneath the flesh of the fruit. These hairs can cause irritation to the mouth and digestive tract if ingested.

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - eastern China, Japan, Korea.

Habitat

On slopes, in scrub, or by rivers; at elevations from 300 - 2,000 metres[]. Disturbed areas, thickets, borders of woods, fences, streamsides, roadsides, old pastures, fields, acidic soil; at elevations up to 1,700 metres[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Climber
Height	5.00 m
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Rosa multiflora is a very cold-hardy plant, being able to tolerate temperatures down to around -25°c when fully dormant[].
A very tolerant plant, it succeeds in most soils and a range of habitats, though it prefers a circumneutral soil and a sunny position[, , ]. This species grows well in acidic soils in America[]. It grows well in heavy clay soils and succeeds on poor soils[]. Dislikes water-logged soils[].
A very ornamental plant[], more than 100 blooms can be produced in a single cluster[]. These flowers possess a delicious sweet fruity perfume[].
Long arching stems are sent out each year from the main body of the plant - early the following summer these stems are clothed with blossom[].
Plants often self-layer[].
Rose species will often hybridize freely with other members of the genus[].
Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or made into preserves, pies etc[, , ]. The red-brown or purple-brown, subglobose fruit is about 6 - 8mm in diameter[], but there is only a thin layer of flesh surrounding the many seeds[]. The fruit is rich in carotene (81.4mg per 100g) and vitamin C[]. Some care has to be taken when eating this fruit, see the notes above on known hazards.

Young leaves and shoots - raw or cooked as a vegetable[, , , ]. Used as they emerge from the ground in spring. The young shoots are eaten in Indonesia as 'lablab' (a vegetable salad that is served with sambal and is often eaten with rice)[]. The young leaves contain more than 200mg per 100g of vitamin C[].

The flowers are used for flavouring tea and food[].

The seed of roses is generally a good source of vitamin E, it can be ground and mixed with flour or added to other foods as a supplement[, ]. Be sure to remove the seed hairs[]. The seed contains about 8% oil[].

Medicinal

The leaves are poulticed and applied to sores[].

The fruit is anodyne, diuretic, hypoglycaemic and laxative[]. It is also antidotal to fish poisoning[]. It is used to treat constipation and articular pain[].
The fruit is used externally to treat foul ulcers, wounds, sprains and injuries[].
The fruit of many members of this genus is a very rich source of vitamins and minerals, especially in vitamins A, C and E, flavanoids and other bio-active compounds. It is also a fairly good source of essential fatty acids, which is fairly unusual for a fruit. It is being investigated as a food that is capable of reducing the incidence of cancer and also as a means of halting or reversing the growth of cancers[].

The seed is laxative and diuretic[]. The achene has ong been used as a purgative in Japanese traditional medicine[].







The root is rich in tannins. It is astringent and carminative[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is fairly wind tolerant and can be grown as a shelter hedge though it can be damaged by salt laden winds[]. The plant has a dense sturdy habit and makes an excellent hedge[].
The plant also has an extensive root system and is used for soil stabilization[, ]. It grows very well on banks and along embankments of roads[].
Rose species in general grow well with alliums, parsley, mignonette and lupins[, ]. Garlic planted nearby can help protect the plant from disease and insect predation[, ]. Roses often grow badly with boxwood[].

Other Uses

The root contains 23 - 25% tannin[]. (refers specifically to var cathayensis)

An essential oil obtained from the fresh flowers is used in the cosmetic industry[]. (refers specifically to var cathayensis)
Various parts of the plant are used as ingredients in commercial cosmetic preparations[].
An extract of the whole plant is used as an antioxidant, hair conditioner, humectant and skin protector[].
The flowers and their essential oils are used as antioxidants, emollients, humectants, skin conditioners and viscosity controllers
The fruits and their extracts are used as masking agents, moisturisers and tonics[]
The roots and their extracts are used as hair and skin conditioners[].
The oil from the seeds is used as an antioxidant[].

This species has been used in breeding programmes for new horticultural varieties. A range of vigorous climbers have been developed that are known as the 'hard-luck' roses because of their great tolerance to frost, neglect, and varying habitats[] The plant is also used as a rootstock for other species of rose, especially for ramblers and when grown on poor soils[, ].

Propagation

Seed. Rose seed often takes two years to germinate. This is because it may need a warm spell of weather after a cold spell in order to mature the embryo and reduce the seedcoat[]. One possible way to reduce this time is to scarify the seed and then place it for 2 - 3 weeks in damp peat at a temperature of 27 - 32°c (by which time the seed should have imbibed). It is then kept at 3°c for the next 4 months by which time it should be starting to germinate[]. Alternatively, it is possible that seed harvested 'green' (when it is fully developed but before it has dried on the plant) and sown immediately will germinate in the late winter. This method has not as yet(1988) been fully tested[]. Seed sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame sometimes germinates in spring though it may take 18 months. Stored seed can be sown as early in the year as possible and stratified for 6 weeks at 5°c[]. It may take 2 years to germinate[]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. Plant out in the summer if the plants are more than 25cm tall, otherwise grow on in a cold frame for the winter and plant out in late spring.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood with a heel, July in a shaded frame. Overwinter the plants in the frame and plant out in late spring[]. High percentage[].
Cuttings of mature wood of the current seasons growth. Select pencil thick shoots in early autumn that are about 20 - 25cm long and plant them in a sheltered position outdoors or in a cold frame[, ]. The cuttings can take 12 months to establish but a high percentage of them normally succeed[].
Division of suckers in the dormant season. Plant them out direct into their permanent positions.
Layering. Very easy, taking around 12 months to establish. Plants will often self-layer[].