Bloomipedia
Multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora)
Photo: Tom Scavo via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Multiflora rose

Rosa multiflora

Introduced in the lower 48

Multiflora rose is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 24 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–June.

39states
24of our state lists
92,935U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin

🚫
Regulated invasive plant in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Illinois, Connecticut, Tennessee, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Missouri, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Delaware and Iowa. It's on those states' official invasive plant lists (New York: Prohibited invasive species (6 NYCRR § 575.3); Pennsylvania: Class B noxious weed; Ohio: Invasive plant (sale and propagation prohibited); Massachusetts: Prohibited plant (sale, import and propagation banned); New Jersey: Prohibited invasive plant (propagation banned from 2027, sale from 2030); Illinois: Exotic weed (sale and planting prohibited); Connecticut: Prohibited invasive plant (some listings take effect on later dates; see the statute); Tennessee: Pest plant (no propagation, sale or release); Kentucky: Noxious weed (controlled on state highways under KRS 176.051); Wisconsin: Restricted invasive species; Missouri: Noxious weed (sale prohibited); Vermont: Quarantine List, Tier 3; New Hampshire: Prohibited invasive plant; Maine: Do Not Sell invasive plant (illegal to sell or import); Delaware: Invasive Plant List (sale and propagation prohibited); Iowa: Secondary noxious weed). Please don't plant or share it there. 6 NYCRR Part 575 PA noxious weed list OAC 901:5-30-01 MA Prohibited Plant List NJ prohibited invasive list 17 IAC 1100.30 CGS § 22a-381d TN pest plant list KRS 176.051 NR 40 2 CSR 70-45.005 Vermont Quarantine List NH Agr 3800 Maine Do Not Sell list 3 DE Admin. Code 806 Iowa Code § 317.1A

Quick look

Rosa multiflora is a species of rose known commonly as multiflora rose, baby rose, Japanese rose, many-flowered rose, seven-sisters rose, Eijitsu rose and rambler rose. It is native to eastern Asia, in China, Japan, and Korea. It should not be confused with Rosa rugosa, which is also known as "Japanese rose", or with polyantha roses which are garden cultivars derived from hybrids of R. multiflora.

  • It belongs to the Rosaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as a subshrub / a vine with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 39 states. USDA PLANTS
  • In New York, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–June. iNaturalist
  • In Pennsylvania, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–June. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 11,251 research-grade sightings of it in New York, ranking #6 among the 109 flowers on our New York list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 9,382 research-grade sightings of it in Pennsylvania, ranking #7 among the 111 flowers on our Pennsylvania list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 8,290 research-grade sightings of it in Ohio, ranking #8 among the 109 flowers on our Ohio list. iNaturalist

State flower gift ideas

This one is a regulated invasive plant, so here are state flower gifts instead.

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (5,592 records)
Bloom time in each of our 24 states
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
New YorkIntroducedMay–June11,251
PennsylvaniaIntroducedMay–June9,382
OhioIntroducedMay–June8,290
MassachusettsIntroducedMay–June7,668
New JerseyIntroducedMay–June7,239
MarylandIntroducedMay–June6,270
VirginiaIntroducedApril–May6,185
North CarolinaIntroducedApril–June4,889
MichiganIntroducedMay–June3,915
IllinoisIntroducedMay–June3,001
ConnecticutIntroducedMay–June2,747
TennesseeIntroducedApril–May2,556
IndianaIntroducedMay–June2,463
KentuckyIntroducedApril–May1,818
WisconsinIntroducedMay–June1,769
MissouriIntroducedApril–May1,545
VermontIntroducedJune1,266
West VirginiaIntroducedMay–June1,223
New HampshireIntroducedJune1,166
MaineIntroducedJune–July1,130
DelawareIntroducedMay–June1,105
GeorgiaIntroducedApril–May1,039
Rhode IslandIntroducedMay–June935
IowaIntroducedMay–June603

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. NatureServe
New York
Not listed Not on New York protected native plants (6 NYCRR § 193.3). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in New York. 6 NYCRR § 193.3
Pennsylvania
Not listed Not on Pennsylvania classified native plants (17 Pa. Code Ch. 45, Subchapter B, as amended 2023). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Pennsylvania. 17 Pa. Code Ch. 45
Ohio
Not listed Not on Ohio endangered and threatened plants (Ohio Adm. Code 1501:18-1-03, eff. Dec. 26, 2024). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Ohio. OAC 1501:18-1-03
Massachusetts
Not listed Not on Massachusetts Endangered Species Act list (321 CMR 10.90). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Massachusetts. MESA list
New Jersey
Not listed Not on New Jersey Endangered Plant Species List (N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in New Jersey. N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1
Maryland
Not listed Not on Maryland threatened and endangered plants (COMAR 08.03.08.05, .06 and .08). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Maryland. COMAR 08.03.08
Virginia
Not listed Not on Virginia endangered and threatened plant and insect species (2VAC5-320-10). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Virginia. 2VAC5-320-10
North Carolina
Not listed Not on North Carolina Protected Plant Species List (02 NCAC 48F .0301). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in North Carolina. 02 NCAC 48F .0301
Michigan
Not listed Not on Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Michigan. R 299.1028
Illinois
Not listed Not on Illinois List of Endangered and Threatened Flora (17 Ill. Adm. Code 1050), per the Endangered Species Protection Board's 2025 checklist. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Illinois. IL E&T checklist 2025
Connecticut
Not listed Not on Connecticut Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Plants (RCSA 26-306; 2015 list). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Connecticut. CT E/T/SC list
Tennessee
Not listed Not on Tennessee endangered plants (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-06-02-.04, Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Tennessee. TN rule 0400-06-02-.04
Indiana
No list Indiana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the DNR keeps a rare plant list, but it isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Indiana ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Indiana.
Kentucky
Not listed Not on Kentucky endangered and threatened plant lists (400 KAR 3:040, eff. 2026). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Kentucky. 400 KAR 3:040
Wisconsin
Not listed Not on Wisconsin endangered and threatened species list (Wis. Admin. Code NR 27.03). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Wisconsin. NR 27.03
Missouri
Not listed Not on Missouri Wildlife Code endangered species (3 CSR 10-4.111), plants. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Missouri. 3 CSR 10-4.111
Vermont
Not listed Not on Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Vermont. Vermont E&T list
West Virginia
No list West Virginia has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (only federally listed species are protected), so we show NatureServe's West Virginia ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in West Virginia.
New Hampshire
Not listed Not on New Hampshire Official Rare Plants List (Ncr 312, eff. Jan 1, 2020). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in New Hampshire. NH Ncr 312
Maine
Not listed Not on Maine Rare Plant List (Maine Natural Areas Program, 2021). E and T are Maine's official endangered and threatened plants (12 M.R.S.); SC and PE are tracking categories. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Maine. Maine rare plant list
Delaware
Not listed Not on Rare and Uncommon Plants of Delaware (DNREC, 2024; informational, Delaware has no state plant-protection list). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Delaware. DE rare plants 2024
Georgia
Not listed Not on Georgia protected plants (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-4-10-.09; a 2026 update is proposed). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Georgia. Ga. R. 391-4-10-.09
Rhode Island
Not listed Not on Rhode Island Rare Plants 2016 (RI Natural History Survey, from the RI Wildlife Action Plan; informational, Rhode Island has no state plant-protection listing law). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Rhode Island. RI rare plants 2016
Iowa
Not listed Not on Iowa endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Iowa Admin. Code r. 571-77.3). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Iowa. IAC 571-77.3
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no edibility or poison notes on its page), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people. NC State Extension

For petsNon-toxic to dogs, cats and horses

ASPCA's entry “Rose” (Rosa Species), which covers the whole genus, lists it as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Eating lots of any plant can still upset a pet's stomach. ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records multiflora rose in 39 states plus Washington, D.C.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin; District of Columbia.

New York counties with USDA records: Albany, Bronx, Chautauqua, Delaware, Kings, Monroe, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Schenectady, Suffolk, Ulster, Westchester, Wyoming.

Pennsylvania counties with USDA records: Adams, Allegheny, Bedford, Berks, Blair, Bradford, Bucks, Centre, Chester, Crawford, Dauphin, Delaware, Erie, Franklin, Huntingdon, Lancaster, Lawrence, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Lycoming, Mercer, Montgomery, Northampton, Northumberland, Perry, Philadelphia, Schuylkill, Susquehanna, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Westmoreland, Wyoming, York.

Ohio counties with USDA records: Adams, Ashland, Ashtabula, Athens, Brown, Butler, Carroll, Champaign, Clark, Clermont, Columbiana, Coshocton, Crawford, Cuyahoga, Defiance, Delaware, Erie, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Fulton, Gallia, Geauga, Guernsey, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin, Harrison, Henry, Holmes, Huron, Jackson, Jefferson, Knox, Lake, Lawrence, Licking, Logan, Lorain, Lucas, Madison, Mahoning, Marion, Medina, Meigs, Mercer, Miami, Monroe, Morgan, Morrow, Muskingum, Noble, Ottawa, Paulding, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Portage, Richland, Ross, Sandusky, Scioto, Seneca, Shelby, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, Union, Van Wert, Vinton, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Williams, Wood, Wyandot.

More New York flowers

Sources