Rosa rubiginosa L. -- Washington

Evaluation Summary

Evaluation Date: 2022-08-03

Screener: Jim Evans

Plant: Rosa rubiginosa L.

Common Name(s):

Sweet briar, sweet brier, sweetbriar rose

State: Washington

PRE Score: 20

Questions Answered: 20

Screener Confidence (%): 85

Executive Summary

Sweetbriar rose (Rosa rubiginosa) is a large deciduous shrub native to Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia. The species has been widely introduced into the Americas, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa and is recognized as invasive in Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and elsewhere in its introduced range.

R. rubiginosa favors well-drained soils in sunny to partially shaded habitats such as roadsides, pastures, Conservation Reserve Program fields, and natural areas. It reproduces sexually by seed and vegetatively by layering and suckering. Seeds are eaten and spread by birds and other wildlife and by domestic livestock.

Sweetbriar rose spreads aggressively and can rapidly dominate an area, resulting in a decline in native plant species and/ or desirable cultivated forage species. The forage value of pastures with sweetbriar rose declines significantly with increasing abundance of R. rubiginosa, and dense infestations can impede the movement of livestock, wildlife and vehicles.

Climate Matching Map

Climate Matching Map PDF

Attachment	Size
ClimateMatch_WA_Rosa_rubiginosa.pdf (1.17 MB)	1.17 MB

1. Question 1

Yes or No

Yes

Points

1

Confidence

Very High

Answer / Justification

R. rubiginosa is native to Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia (Missouri Botanical Garden, no date). The species is reported as naturalized across North America and in South America, Australia, New Zealand, and elsewhere (Agriculture Victoria 2020 and references therein; Hirsch et al. 2011 and references therein; Hunter 1983, USDA Plants Database).

Reference(s)

Hunter, G. 1983. “An Assessment of the Distribution of Sweet Brier (Rosa Rubiginosa) in New Zealand”. New Zealand Journal of Experimental Agriculture 11: 181-88.

Hirsch, H, H Zimmermann, C Ritz, , H von Wehrden, D Renison, K Wesche, E. Welk, and I Hensen. 2011. “Tracking the Origin of Invasive Rosa Rubiginosa Popuations in Argentina”. International Journal of Plant Sciences 172: 530-40. https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/toc/ijps/2011/172/4.

“Invasiveness Assessment - Sweet Briar (Rosa Rubiginosa) in Victoria”. 2020 2022. State of Victoria, Australia. https://vro.agriculture.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/vrosite.nsf/pages/weeds_invasive_sweet_briar.

Database, USDA Plants. n.d. “USDA Plants Profile for Rosa Rubiginosa L., Sweetbriar Rose”. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Agriculture. https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=RORU82.

2. Question 2

Yes or No

Yes

Points

2

Confidence

Very High

Answer / Justification

The PlantRight-PRE climate match map indicates that R. rubiginosa’s naturalized range includes regions of similar climate along the west coast of North America, in the Appalachian Mountains of eastern North America, in the southern Andes, in New Zealand, and in southern Australia.

Reference(s)

“PlantRight”. n.d. http://websites.greeninfo.org/plantright/finder/$\#$.

3. Question 3

Yes or No

Yes

Points

2

Confidence

Very High

Answer / Justification

R. rubiginosa is invasive in North and South America, including in the Pacific Northwest, in South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand (Pavek 2012; Pavek and Skinner 2013; Agriculture Victoria 2020 and references therein; Hirsch et al. 2011 and references therein; Hunter 1983).

Reference(s)

Pavek, P. 2012. “Plant Guide for Sweetbriar Rose (Rosa Rubiginosa L.)”. Pullman, WA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 1-3. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_PLANTMATERIALS/publications/wapmcpg11563.pdf.

Hunter, G. 1983. “An Assessment of the Distribution of Sweet Brier (Rosa Rubiginosa) in New Zealand”. New Zealand Journal of Experimental Agriculture 11: 181-88.

Hirsch, H, H Zimmermann, C Ritz, , H von Wehrden, D Renison, K Wesche, E. Welk, and I Hensen. 2011. “Tracking the Origin of Invasive Rosa Rubiginosa Popuations in Argentina”. International Journal of Plant Sciences 172: 530-40. https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/toc/ijps/2011/172/4.

“Invasiveness Assessment - Sweet Briar (Rosa Rubiginosa) in Victoria”. 2020 2022. State of Victoria, Australia. https://vro.agriculture.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/vrosite.nsf/pages/weeds_invasive_sweet_briar.

Pavek, P, and D Skinner. 2013. “Roses of the Inland Pacific Northwest: Native and Invasive Species, Identification, Biology and Control”. Plant Materials Center, Pullman, WA.: Natural Resources Conservation Service, 24 pp. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_PLANTMATERIALS/publications/wapmctn11818.pdf.

4. Question 4

Yes or No

Yes

Points

3

Confidence

Very High

Answer / Justification

R. rubiginosa is considered invasive in portions of Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand indicated by the PlantRight-PRE climate match map as having climates similar to the Pacific Northwest (Agriculture Victoria 2020 and references therein; Hirsch et al. 2011 and references therein; Hunter 1983).

Reference(s)

Hunter, G. 1983. “An Assessment of the Distribution of Sweet Brier (Rosa Rubiginosa) in New Zealand”. New Zealand Journal of Experimental Agriculture 11: 181-88.

Hirsch, H, H Zimmermann, C Ritz, , H von Wehrden, D Renison, K Wesche, E. Welk, and I Hensen. 2011. “Tracking the Origin of Invasive Rosa Rubiginosa Popuations in Argentina”. International Journal of Plant Sciences 172: 530-40. https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/toc/ijps/2011/172/4.

“Invasiveness Assessment - Sweet Briar (Rosa Rubiginosa) in Victoria”. 2020 2022. State of Victoria, Australia. https://vro.agriculture.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/vrosite.nsf/pages/weeds_invasive_sweet_briar.

“PlantRight”. n.d. http://websites.greeninfo.org/plantright/finder/$\#$.

5. Question 5

Yes or No

Yes

Points

1

Confidence

High

Answer / Justification

R. multiflora is reported as invasive in a number of states, regions, and localities with climate similar to Washington, including New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia (Amrine 2002), and California (DiTomaso et al. 2013). The species is listed as invasive and prohibited by the cities of Portland and Eugene, OR (City of Eugene, no date, City of Portland. 2016).

Reference(s)

“Portland Plant List”. 2016. Portland, OR: City of Portland, OR, Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, 202 pp. https://www.portland.gov/sites/default/files/2018-12/Portland_Plant_List_2016_Update_Final2.pdf.

“Invasive Species Prohibited Plant List”. (2020) 2020 2022. Eugene, OR: City of Eugene, OR, Eugene Parks and Recreation. https://www.eugene-or.gov/DocumentCenter/View/53051/Invasive-Species-Prohibited-9_2020?bidId=.

Amrine, J.W. , Jr. 2002. “Multiflora Rose”. In , 2002nd-04th ed., 265-92. USDA Forest Service. https://www.invasive.org/biocontrol/pdf/22MultifloraRose.pdf.

DiTomaso, J, G Kyser, and et al. 2013. “Sweetbriar, Dog, and Multiflora Rose”. In . Berkeley, CA: Weed Research and Information Center, University of California. https://wric.ucdavis.edu/information/natural\%20areas/wr_R/Rosa_canina-eglanteria-multiflora.pdf.

6. Question 6

Yes or No

Yes

Points

2

Confidence

High

Answer / Justification

The PlantRight-PRE Climate Match map indicates that, although R. rubiginosa's distribution includes considerable area in eastern Europe/western Asia and in the central United States, the species' native range in western and central Europe as well as significant portions of its introduced range (i.e., west coast and Appalachian Mtns. in North America, the southern Andes, New Zealand, and southern Australia) generally matches the climate of Washington state and the Pacific Northwest.

Reference(s)

“PlantRight”. n.d. http://websites.greeninfo.org/plantright/finder/$\#$.

7. Question 7

Yes or No

Yes

Points

1

Confidence

Very High

Answer / Justification

Rationale: Spreading by layering and suckering in addition to seed production, sweetbriar rose can rapidly dominate an area, resulting in a decline in native plant species and/ or cultivated forage plants (Pavek 2012, DiTomaso et al. 2013). On New Zealand’s South Island, Stevens and Hughes (1973) observed R. rubiginosa forming dense thickets 1-3m that livestock were unable to penetrate, reducing forage availability by directly occupying thousands of hectares of productive rangeland and indirectly by blocking access to less infested areas.

Reference(s)

No references cited.

8. Question 8

Yes or No

No

Points

0

Confidence

High

Answer / Justification

Rationale: Rosa rubiginosa resprouts following fire and fire has been shown to confer advantages over native species in Argentine woodlands, but neither these nor other sources suggest that the species alters fire regimes.

Reference(s)

Cavallero, L, and E Raffaele. 2010. “Fire Enhances the ‘competition-Free’ Space of an Invader Shrub: Rosa Rubiginosa in Northwestern Patagonia”. Biological Invasions 12: 3395-3404.

Damascos, M, A Ladio, A Rovere, and L Ghermandi. 2005. “Semillas de Rosa Mosqueta: Dispersión Y Germinación en Diferentes Bosques Nativos Andino-Patagónicos”. Patagonia Forestal 11: 2-6.

9. Question 9

Yes or No

Yes

Points

1

Confidence

High

Answer / Justification

Pavek (2012) notes that the forage value of pastures with R. rubiginosa decreases significantly as the species increases in abundance. None of the available sources mention R. rubiginosa as a health risk to either humans or animals/fish.

Reference(s)

Pavek, P. 2012. “Plant Guide for Sweetbriar Rose (Rosa Rubiginosa L.)”. Pullman, WA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 1-3. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_PLANTMATERIALS/publications/wapmcpg11563.pdf.

10. Question 10

Yes or No

Yes

Points

1

Confidence

High

Answer / Justification

Rosa rubiginosa forms dense, thorny stands up to 10 feet tall which impede the movement of livestock, wildlife and vehicles and deter wildlife and livestock from feeding close to the plant. Although the species may be browsed by sheep (Sage et al. 2008), generally the forage value of pastures diminishes rapidly following the species’ invasion and spread. (Pavek 2012, Agriculture Victoria 2020 and references therein)

Reference(s)

Pavek, P. 2012. “Plant Guide for Sweetbriar Rose (Rosa Rubiginosa L.)”. Pullman, WA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 1-3. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_PLANTMATERIALS/publications/wapmcpg11563.pdf.

Sage, D, D Norton, and P Espie. 2009. “Effect of Grazing Exclusion on the Woody Weed Rosa Rubiginosa in High Country Short Tussock Grasslands”. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 52: 123-28. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00288230909510496.

“Invasiveness Assessment - Sweet Briar (Rosa Rubiginosa) in Victoria”. 2020 2022. State of Victoria, Australia. https://vro.agriculture.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/vrosite.nsf/pages/weeds_invasive_sweet_briar.

11. Question 11

Yes or No

Yes

Points

1

Confidence

High

Answer / Justification

R. Rubiginosa spreads via suckering and layering in addition to sexual reproduction.

Reference(s)

Pavek, P. 2012. “Plant Guide for Sweetbriar Rose (Rosa Rubiginosa L.)”. Pullman, WA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 1-3. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_PLANTMATERIALS/publications/wapmcpg11563.pdf.

12. Question 12

Yes or No

No

Points

0

Confidence

High

Answer / Justification

Although vegetative spread by layering and suckering is reportedly common in R. rubiginosa, none of the numerous studies and reports concerning the species’ reproduction and spread mention fragmentation as a mechanism (Damascos et al. 2005, Cavallero and Raffaele 2010, Pavek 2012)

Reference(s)

Pavek, P. 2012. “Plant Guide for Sweetbriar Rose (Rosa Rubiginosa L.)”. Pullman, WA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 1-3. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_PLANTMATERIALS/publications/wapmcpg11563.pdf.

Cavallero, L, and E Raffaele. 2010. “Fire Enhances the ‘competition-Free’ Space of an Invader Shrub: Rosa Rubiginosa in Northwestern Patagonia”. Biological Invasions 12: 3395-3404.

Damascos, M, A Ladio, A Rovere, and L Ghermandi. 2005. “Semillas de Rosa Mosqueta: Dispersión Y Germinación en Diferentes Bosques Nativos Andino-Patagónicos”. Patagonia Forestal 11: 2-6.

13. Question 13

Yes or No

Yes

Points

1

Confidence

Very High

Answer / Justification

Molloy (1966) assessed seed viability of R. rubiginosa in laboratory tests at 51.5% and 84.5%, depending on seed lot. Zimmerman et al. (2012) conducted laboratory tests on seeds of R. rubiginosa from native European and introduced South American ranges and reported 14-49% germination, with South American seeds exhibiting consistently higher rates. Damascos et al. (2005) observed an average field germination rate of 15% of seeds of R. rubiginosa in Argentine woodlands. Viability of seeds found in the dung of horses and cattle approached 100%.

Reference(s)

Zimmermann, H, H von Wehrden, D Renison, K Wesche, E. Welk, M Damascos, and I Hensen. 2012. “Shrub Management Is the Principal Driver of Differing Population Sizes Between Native and Invasive Populations of Rosa Rubiginosa L”. Biological Invasions 14 14: 2141\textendash2157.

Molloy, B. 1966. “The Autecology of Sweet Brier (Rosa Rubiginosa L.)”. Christchurch, NZ. https://researcharchive.lincoln.ac.nz/handle/10182/1859.

Damascos, M, A Ladio, A Rovere, and L Ghermandi. 2005. “Semillas de Rosa Mosqueta: Dispersión Y Germinación en Diferentes Bosques Nativos Andino-Patagónicos”. Patagonia Forestal 11: 2-6.

14. Question 14

Yes or No

Yes

Points

1

Confidence

Very High

Answer / Justification

Damascos et al. (2005) reported production of 18,000 seeds/ m2 for R. rubiginosa in Argentine woodlands. Based on this, the average field germination rate of 15% observed by the same authors yields 2700 viable seeds/ m2.

Reference(s)

Damascos, M, A Ladio, A Rovere, and L Ghermandi. 2005. “Semillas de Rosa Mosqueta: Dispersión Y Germinación en Diferentes Bosques Nativos Andino-Patagónicos”. Patagonia Forestal 11: 2-6.

15. Question 15

Yes or No

No

Points

0

Confidence

High

Answer / Justification

Damascos et al. (2005) observed an average field germination rate of 15% of seeds of R. rubiginosa in Argentine woodlands. Wildfire enhanced germination somewhat compared to controls.

Reference(s)

Damascos, M, A Ladio, A Rovere, and L Ghermandi. 2005. “Semillas de Rosa Mosqueta: Dispersión Y Germinación en Diferentes Bosques Nativos Andino-Patagónicos”. Patagonia Forestal 11: 2-6.

16. Question 16

Yes or No

Yes

Points

1

Confidence

Medium

Answer / Justification

Agriculture Victoria (2020) states that R. rubiginosa begins to produce flowers at age 3.

Reference(s)

“Invasiveness Assessment - Sweet Briar (Rosa Rubiginosa) in Victoria”. 2020 2022. State of Victoria, Australia. https://vro.agriculture.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/vrosite.nsf/pages/weeds_invasive_sweet_briar.

17. Question 17

Yes or No

Yes

Points

1

Confidence

Very High

Answer / Justification

Cavallero and Raffaele (2010) report R. rubiginosa’s fruiting period as lasting from January or February (depending on site) through June in Argentine woodlands. Damascos et al. (2005) reported continuing, though reduced, fruit production through November in similar Argentine habitats. In western North America, the Jepson eflora indentifies the annual flowering period for as May through August, from which it may be inferred that seed production also lasts that long (Ertter 2014).

Reference(s)

Cavallero, L, and E Raffaele. 2010. “Fire Enhances the ‘competition-Free’ Space of an Invader Shrub: Rosa Rubiginosa in Northwestern Patagonia”. Biological Invasions 12: 3395-3404.

Ertter, B. 2014. “Rosa Rubiginosa” 2022. Jepson Flora Project (eds.), Jepson eFlora, Revision 2. https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=41648.

Damascos, M, A Ladio, A Rovere, and L Ghermandi. 2005. “Semillas de Rosa Mosqueta: Dispersión Y Germinación en Diferentes Bosques Nativos Andino-Patagónicos”. Patagonia Forestal 11: 2-6.

18. Question 18

Yes or No

Yes

Points

1

Confidence

Very High

Answer / Justification

Damascos et al. (2005) documented consumption and dispersal of hips/ seeds by rodents, domestic livestock, birds and other wildlife as important mechanisms for dispersal for R. rubiginosa in Argentine woodlands. Studies and reports by Hatton (1989), Cavallero and Raffaele (2010), Pavek (2012), and Agriculture Victoria (2020) corroborate these findings.

Reference(s)

Damascos, M, A Ladio, A Rovere, and L Ghermandi. 2005. “Semillas de Rosa Mosqueta: Dispersión Y Germinación en Diferentes Bosques Nativos Andino-Patagónicos”. Patagonia Forestal 11: 2-6.

Pavek, P. 2012. “Plant Guide for Sweetbriar Rose (Rosa Rubiginosa L.)”. Pullman, WA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 1-3. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_PLANTMATERIALS/publications/wapmcpg11563.pdf.

Cavallero, L, and E Raffaele. 2010. “Fire Enhances the ‘competition-Free’ Space of an Invader Shrub: Rosa Rubiginosa in Northwestern Patagonia”. Biological Invasions 12: 3395-3404.

Hatton, T. 1989. “Spatial Patterning of Sweet Briar (Rosa Rubiginosa) by Two Vertebrate Species”. Australian Journal of Ecology 14: 199-205.

“Invasiveness Assessment - Sweet Briar (Rosa Rubiginosa) in Victoria”. 2020 2022. State of Victoria, Australia. https://vro.agriculture.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/vrosite.nsf/pages/weeds_invasive_sweet_briar.

19. Question 19

Yes or No

No

Points

0

Confidence

Medium

Answer / Justification

Rose hips generally do not split apart to release individual seeds, so wind dispersal is unlikely (Evans 1983). Some sources report R. rubiginosa invading riparian areas (Agriculture Victoria 2020), though this is apparently not among the species’ more common habitats. Where the species does occur in riparian areas water transport of hips may be a possibility but is not discussed in available sources.

Reference(s)

“Invasiveness Assessment - Sweet Briar (Rosa Rubiginosa) in Victoria”. 2020 2022. State of Victoria, Australia. https://vro.agriculture.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/vrosite.nsf/pages/weeds_invasive_sweet_briar.

Evans, J.E. (1983) 1983. “A Literature Review of Management Practices for Multiflora Rose (Rosa Multiflora)”. Natural Areas Journal. http://www.naturalareas.org/docs/5NAJ0301_6-15.pdf.

20. Question 20

Yes or No

No

Points

0

Confidence

Low

Answer / Justification

Hips and seeds of R. rubiginosa may attach to agricultural equipment following mowing, plowing, or excavating, as those of the related Rosa multiflora are known to do (Lingenfelter and Curran 2013); however there is no direct evidence that the larger hips of R. rubiginosa diperse in this way.

Reference(s)

Lingenfelter, D. 2013. “Multiflora Rose Management in Grass Pastures (An Integrated Approach)”. Edited by W Curran. University Park, PA: Penn State Extension, 6 pp. https://extension.psu.edu/multiflora-rose-management-in-grass-pastures-an-integrated-approach.

Total PRE Score

PRE Score

20

Questions Answered

20

Screener Confidence (%)

85

PRE Score Legend

The PRE Score is calculated by adding the point totals for each (answered) question.

< 13 : Low Potential Risk
13 - 15 : Moderate Potential Risk
> 15 : High Potential Risk

Questions Answered Legend

It is important to answer at least 16 questions to consider a PRE Score as "valid".

≥ 16 : Valid (80% or more questions answered)
≤ 15 : Invalid (not enough questions answered)

Evaluation Credits and Citation

Screener: Jim Evans

Below is a recommend citation when referencing this evaluation in other works:

Evans, Jim. "Rosa rubiginosa L. -- Washington" Plant Risk Evaluator (PRE) published 2022-08-03 https://pretool.org/evaluations/1782

Please cite this evaluation. We need your support here!

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Evaluation Reviewers

	Alex Simmons	reviewed on 2022-09-02
	Jutta Burger	reviewed on 2022-09-02
		reviewed on 2022-08-25

Associated Project

2022 Western IPM Grant Project

"Expanding Continuity and Capacity in Invasive Plant Risk Assessments across Western States" is a continuation of the successful 2021 project titled "Building Continuity Across State Invasvie Plant Lists: Evaluating Invasive Risk of Horticultural Plants." Both 2021 and 2022's projects are funded by the Western Integrated Pest Management Center. Project partners for this year inclue the California Invasive Plant Council, PlantRight, The University of Arizona, Western Invasive Species Network, Pacific Northwest Invasive Species Council, the Yurok Tribe, and Nevada State Parks.

Associated Organizations, Agencies, and Institutions

Pacific Northwest Invasive Plant Council