Multiflora Rose

I'm standing next to a planting of Multiflora Rose that was introduced as a living fence and also to provide wildlife habitat. This was on our farm out in Northeast Seward County that we had in the old Conservation Reserve Program. We planted the Multiflora Rose on the two sides of the quarter section (160 acres) next to the road. We planted it by plowing a furrow, placing the foot long seedlings about a foot apart in the loose soil, covering the roots by plowing another furrow and then running the tractor wheel next to the seedlings to firm up the soil around the roots of the young plants. This picture was taken in the mid sixties about 5 years after planting. A few years later we sold the farm to people who raised cattle and most of the Multiflora rose was destroyed in building a conventional fence to enclose cattle. There are still a few remnants remaining today that we "admire" every time we drive by. Several states have declared Multiflora Rose illegal to plant and they join a list of other plants that have been introduced into regions where they are not native and emerge into something other than intended. Kudzu, Russian Olive trees, Burning Bush, Dames Rocket, etc are just the beginning of such a list. It reminds us of our need to respect Native Species and be skeptical of Introduced species until proven.