Rosa laevigata Michx.

Cherokee Rose

Vine

Perennial

Vascular

Cherokee Rose is an introduced evergreen clambering shrub in the Rose family. It is native to Asia. In Alabama, it can be found in the southern half of the state. Cherokee Rose can be found around old home sites, on roadsides, along fences, along railroads, and in disturbed woodlands. It is a woody shrub with long arching branches capable of climbing high into trees. The stems are green and armed with recurved prickles. Leaves are alternate, evergreen, petiolate, and pinnately compound with three leaflets. The leaflets are glabrous, leathery in texture, and dark green in color. The petiole, rachis, and larger veins on the lower surface of the leaf are armed with prickles. The leaflets are once serrate with gland tipped teeth. Flowers are solitary and terminal on short branches. The pedicel and hypanthium are covered with straight prickles. Each flower had 4 white petals and many anthers. The fruit is a hip that is red in color. The seed are achenes. Cherokee Rose was first collected in Georgia in 1790 by André Michaux. It was already so widespread at the time that he thought it was a native species. Cherokee Rose is listed as a Category 2 Invasive Species by the Alabama Invasive Plant Council.--A. Diamond

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Not Native

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