Plant safety · Safe

Can Alpacas Eat Rose & Multiflora Rose?

Rose & Multiflora Rose (Rosa spp.) — a shrub. Here is what alpaca owners need to know.

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Yes — rose & multiflora rose is safe for alpacas.

It is acceptable forage or browse in normal amounts.

Rose & Multiflora Rose (Rosa spp.)
Rose & Multiflora Rose (Rosa spp.). Photo: User:Tigerente, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Status
Safe
Scientific name
Rosa spp.
Family
Rosaceae
Plant type
Shrub
Also known as
rose

Feeding notes

Leaves, flowers and hips are safe; camelids help control invasive multiflora rose.

How to offer it

  1. Introduce any new forage or browse gradually over a week or two.
  2. Make sure it is fresh — avoid moldy, wilted piles or plants sprayed with herbicide.
  3. Keep a balanced diet: grass or hay first, with a camelid mineral available.

About the plant

A rose is either a woody perennial flowering plant of the genus Rosa, in the family Rosaceae, or the flower it bears. There are over three hundred species and tens of thousands of cultivars. The plants range in size and form, from trailing and erect shrubs to climbers up to 7 metres (23 ft) in height. Sharp prickles appear on the stems of many species. Their flowers vary in size and shape and are usually large and showy, in colours ranging from white through pinks, reds, oranges and yellows.From Wikipedia — “Rose”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it grows

GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, holds 2,714,344 recorded observations of Rosa L. worldwide, including 203,494 in the United States. It belongs to the Rosaceae family, together with Cherry Laurel, Chokecherry, Wild Black Cherry, Cherry Tree (sweet & sour cherry), Peach & Nectarine Tree (leaves, pits). See the occurrence map on GBIF.

Frequently asked questions

Can alpacas eat rose & multiflora rose?
Yes. Leaves, flowers and hips are safe; camelids help control invasive multiflora rose.
How much rose & multiflora rose can an alpaca eat?
As part of a varied diet based on grass or grass hay, it can be eaten freely. Introduce new browse gradually.

Keeping pastures safe

  • Walk every paddock and fence line each season and remove toxic plants, including roots.
  • Never throw garden, hedge or lawn clippings over the fence.
  • Check pastures after storms for fallen branches (cherry, red maple).
  • Buy hay from known sources and inspect it for weeds.
  • Keep pastures well managed — hungry alpacas eat plants they would normally avoid.

Browse the full toxic plant checker, the printable list of poisonous plants and the list of safe plants.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a veterinarian who has examined your animals. Camelid medicine uses many drugs “extra-label”, so dosing must come from your vet. In an emergency, call your vet first. Read our disclaimer · How we write and review content.

Data: plant status compiled from veterinary toxicology references (see sources); taxonomy and occurrences from GBIF; identifiers from Wikidata Q34687.