A love song for Rosa multiflora

Apothecary News: I’m working hard on the next LUNICA Planner! After publishing and working with the planner for the first time I have many things I want to change/add, but I want to hear from you too. If you have a moment to take a quick survey so I can give you exactly what you need to help plan your land-based life, it would be much appreciated. You can find the survey here: woodspells.com/questionnaire

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People aren't longing to be impressed; they're longing to feel like they're home. If you create a space full of love and character and creativity and soul, they'll take off their shoes and curl up with gratitude and rest, no matter how small, no matter how undone, no matter how odd.

~ Shauna Niequist

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A few years ago I bought some “tea” roses off marketplace when they were still babies. I planted them in the garden only to realize a couple of years later once they began flowering that *gasp* they were Rosa multiflora, one of the most dreaded invasive roses. It was introduced from east Asia in 1866 and has been on every gardeners hit list ever since.

There is a reason for this. This particular variety has been known to take over large swaths of land with no regard for the other plants growing in its environment.

My plan was to dig them up and get rid of them after the growing season. I didn’t necessarily think it was a “bad” plant, but like many folks, I simply didn’t think opportunistic plants like this could exist in any environment. But other tasks took my attention away and before I knew it, I had these roses in my garden for three years.

I finally decided the time was now, I had to get rid of them. That was until a friend simply suggested that I just keep them pruned and trained along the fence they were planted against. It was then that one of those little light bulb moments we experience throughout life flickered on. Why didn’t I just tend it like any other plant?

But then I thought, is that even possible? Everything I’ve ever read about any invasive plant was to eliminate it as quickly as possible. Soon I realized though, that doing this would be gardening from a place of fear instead of connection. So I looked deeper and found the secret to cohabitating with particular “invasive” plants is to understand their reproduction.

Roses spread by rooting canes (when the ends of branches meet the ground and take root) and by seed dispersal. If I trained the canes along the fence so that they didn’t touch the ground, and collected all of the rosehips for medicine before they were able to set seed, wouldn’t that solve the issue?

Turns out, it solved more than I knew. Every year now, the roses put out creamy white blossoms that attract bees and other pollinators. Every year it grows a tad bit more along the fence, creating a living hedgerow like those that have existed in the UK and Ireland for thousands of years. Now I don’t have to replace fence posts. I have a medicinal fence. It saves space. I can grow it lengthwise instead of having it take up room outwards.

If you can tend a plant’s reproductive cycle, you can tend an abundant reciprocal garden. There is no way for a plant to take over without being able to reproduce.

Rosa multiflora before being pruned

Rosa multiflora after being pruned, creating a sturdy living fence.

Every year I get baskets of rose petals and fresh healthy rosehips for infusions and teas. With all of this medicine, I never have to worry about pests or diseases because many “invasive” plants are very resilient and roses are often victim to many of these issues.

The roses have become one of my favorite parts of the garden. While I do have to spend more time pruning and training than I would a normal rose, I spend less time treating issues and feeding. I quickly realized that there are no bad plants in a garden, just gardeners who don’t have the time or motivation to tend them.

Of course my situation is unique. I live in the forest which creates a sort of barrier for the roses. Even if I left the roses to their own devices, there would be nowhere for them to go as they cannot thrive in deep shade. And if I ever do leave this land, I would be sure to let the future owner know about the roses as well and let them decide where to go next.

I also grow nettle, mugwort, bee balm, hops and I let some dandelion go to seed. All of these plants have become pariahs amongst gardening circles. The thing about growing many robust plants in one space (within confinement) is that it creates an ecosystem that needs very little input from us gardeners.

After my rose experience, I began to see things differently. They lend their vigor, stamina and reliability to the garden while I provide boundaries. I began to see that we can co-exist with these types of plants, perhaps even thrive with them.

Rosa multiflora gave me a lesson I won’t soon forget. As with many things, planting this species may not be appropriate for all environments. Heck, planting any opportunistic plants may not be appropriate for many environments.

But painting it in one shade without seeing its many beautiful qualities does it and us a disservice. And let’s face it, with the warming of the earth, we need more resilient plants to feed and heal people and wildlife. When we look past the labels, the headlines, the upturned noses, what do we see?

I hope you find yourself safe during this early wildfire season. I hope you can still carve out pieces of happiness for yourself amidst it all.

Much Love,

Val