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Is Multiflora rose illegal in Indiana?
Sources (5)
- 312 IAC 18-3-25 (LII) – Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute
- Indiana DNR — Terrestrial invasive plants – State of Indiana (IN.gov)
- Indiana DNR Terrestrial Plant Rule brochure (PDF) – State of Indiana (IN.gov)
- 312 IAC 18 (official Indiana Administrative Code) — 18-3-25 terrestrial plant rule; 18-3-13 multiflora rose and Lythrum; 18-3-16 kudzu
- Indiana Register, LSA Document #18-316(F) — final rule adding 312 IAC 18-3-25 (filed March 18, 2019; effective 30 days after filing) – Indiana Administrative Code / Indiana Register (Legislative Services Agency)
Also called: Rosa multiflora. Last checked against official sources: 2026-10-15.
Federal noxious weed list (7 CFR 360.200): Multiflora rose is not listed.
What Indiana's official list says
| List / legal category | Listed as | List note | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiflora rose rule (312 IAC 18-3-13(b), (d)) — may not be planted in Indiana, except by a certified, licensed nursery as rose grafting stock | Rosa multiflora | multiflora rose — civil penalty $500 per site, each year a separate offense (312 IAC 18-3-13(g)) | Legally regulated — restrictions apply |
Effective dates
- The rule entry gives no separate date. 312 IAC 18-3-13 was first filed November 22, 1996 (20 IR 952) and amended March 23, 2001 (24 IR 2403); it was most recently readopted (filed March 25, 2025) (history note, official Indiana Administrative Code).
Already have it in your yard?
Noxious-weed rules can require control or restrict moving the plant (including soil, seed and cuttings). Check the exact wording above and the linked law. Indiana's multiflora rose rule says no one may plant Rosa multiflora in Indiana, except a certified, licensed nursery using it as rose grafting stock (312 IAC 18-3-13(b), (d)). It does not order owners to remove a plant already growing, but a person who maintains or distributes it in violation of the rule faces a civil penalty of $500 per site, each year a separate offense, and may be required to destroy the unlawful plants and restore the site (312 IAC 18-3-13(g)). Multiflora rose is not on Indiana's separate 44-plant Terrestrial Plant Rule list (312 IAC 18-3-25).
Native alternatives for Indiana
- Carolina rose (Rosa carolina)
- Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)
- New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus)
- Steeplebush (Spiraea tomentosa)
Each is recorded as native to Indiana in the USDA NRCS PLANTS Database state distribution (retrieved 2026-10-14). Check size, sun and soil fit for your site with your local Extension office.
Multiflora rose in other states
Alabama Connecticut Delaware Illinois Iowa Kentucky Maine Massachusetts Minnesota Missouri New Hampshire New Jersey New York Ohio Pennsylvania South Dakota Tennessee Vermont Virginia Wisconsin
See every plant on Indiana's invasive & noxious plant lists, or check any plant.
Not legal advice. PlantLegit summarizes official lists and links the source. Laws change, local (county/city) rules may add restrictions, and the official text controls. "What it means" is our plain-English label; read the exact list wording. Confirm with the agency before buying, selling or removing plants. Full disclaimer.