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Chinese Many-Flowered Rose

Rosa multiflora var. cathayensis

Flower
Foliage
Chinese Many-Flowered Rose

Known across centuries of Chinese gardens as Seven Sisters, this rambling rose covers itself once each summer in clustered pink blooms, and can climb a fence or sprawl across a bank with equal commitment.

Rosa multiflora var. cathayensis is a large, vigorous rambler native to China, reaching 8 to 20 feet tall and 5 to 10 feet wide with enough ambition to climb a privacy screen or tumble across a stream bank in equal measure. The common name "Seven Sisters" reflects the clustered blooms that arrive in summer, light pink or white single flowers with a light fragrance and the kind of effortless abundance that cottage garden enthusiasts prize. Essential oil can be extracted from the flowers. Small rose hips follow once the bloom is spent.

This rose blooms once per year, so placement matters. Give it a spot in full sun to partial shade, in sandy or loamy soil that drains well, with room to spread. Too much shade will noticeably reduce flowering. Propagation is straightforward through layering or stem cuttings, and pruning while dormant keeps growth in check. Because this variety can form dense thickets, it is best suited to naturalized areas, slopes prone to erosion, or large structures where its climbing habit is welcome rather than a management problem. Hardy from zone 4 to 9.

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Zone4 - 9
TypePerennial
FoliageDeciduous
Height8 - 20 ft
Spread6 - 12 ft
BloomSummer
MaintenanceLow
SunFull sun
SoilLoam (silt)
DrainageGood drainage
FormArching
TextureMedium
PropagationLayering
DesignAccent
FamilyRosaceae
LocationsNaturalized Area
Garden themesAsian Garden
Palettes