This rose, originally from Asia, can be seen blooming now across much of North America. Starting more than a century ago, it was planted across the US — for many good reasons — but it has proven to be invasive, an example of unintended consequences. It was supposed to create wildlife cover and be a “living fence” but its rampant growth smothers other vegetation. 

When we first moved to the PGT in 1970 there were impenetrable thickets of it. We have been fighting it for decades and today it’s under good control. In many other parts of the country it continues to be a serious problem.