Sweet Chariot the fragrant mini rose will cascade very nicely. In the open it gets to be 2 feet high by 3 feet wide. Planted on the edge of the boulder its canes will billow down the boulder. It will need only minimal pruning. Bloom repetition is great, but dead heading will promote more flower production.

I have a 5' bypass pruner by Fiskars that I find indispensable, reaching inaccessible places with ease. Give this a thought.

I'll bet a small climber will work. Some of the David Austin roses are small climbers, like: Abraham Darby and Golden Celebration. As long as a cane arches it will arch over and down a boulder.

I thought of a couple then went back and read that you are in zone 5. When you ask for minimal pruning, are you also thinking about winter damage? It seems that you will need a very winter hardy rose for this job because protecting it would be difficult. With that in mind, what about a Canadian Explorer rose like Quadra or one of the newer Canadian Artist series like Felix Leclerc? This is really not my area of expertise so hopefully someone who grows roses in a similar situation/zone will add something useful.

Opuntiamc, I did not think of using a pair of long pruners. A little hard to be precise with, at arm's length, but better than not pruning or deadheading at all. I have Super Dorothy along a rail fence just above the retaining wall, which is similar in color and form to Sweet Chariot. That could be very pretty. And, yes, some of my Austin roses do have that lax form of wanting to lay on the ground. I can't do this until next spring, but I don't want to wait until then to start thinking about it. I appreciate your suggestions. Will definitely look into finding some long handled pruners!

Your suggestions are wonderful, Kes Z. Could kick myself for not thinking of the Canadian roses. And, absolutely, winter hardiness is important. I do have some Canadian roses - 4 John Davis, 3 John Cabot, 2 William Baffin and several Mordens, Blush, Centennial and Sunrise. They require no winter protection. WB and JD rarely get pruned (too big and hard to reach), yet bloom profusely, WB is in almost complete shade. I especially like your suggestion of Quadra, but have only seen it trained on a trellis. If it would cascade downward, that's the one I would prefer. Can't beat the Canadian roses for hardiness and reliability. With opuntianc's suggestion of long handled pruners and your suggestion of Quadra, I think I have my answer. Many thanks!

One other thought, Flowers Are Music (your handle is choice!), on winter hardiness for zone 5, and another point...

Most climbers are far more winter hardy than the run of the mill rose, so this point opens up the possibility of a greater selection for you.

I am almost able to guarantee the climber, Lady Ashe, as being a good candidate for your special requirements. Its bloom is very fragrant, heavily petaled, high centered even when fully open, and very long lasting on the bush. It is tip hardy in my zone 5/6 W. PA garden. What is a bonus is after the first heavy flush of 3-4 blooms per cluster in the spring, a very good repeat all summer of 2'+ stemmed single blooms goes on until fall. These are extremely easy to dead head, and cut for vases too. The flowers are put where they can be more easily reached. Lady Ashe is essentially a climbing hybrid tea, IMHO. It does like its groceries, and does its best on a heavy feeding program.

Darlows Enigma (sp)

You may also want to look at Stanwell Perpetual for this spot, if you don't mind something a bit larger.

:-)

~Christopher

Vineyard Song? I do not know if it is too small..... It is rated 5b...

http://www.helpmefind.com/rose/l.php?l=21.225220

On a couple of sloping beds, I planted planted pink and red drift. They were a $3 buy from Lowe's and I just stuck them at the bottom of the beds and now wish I had more. They have a very lax, natural habit and just flow down the hill. I also have a long stacked stone wall and have often thought Young Lycidas would look pretty hanging over the edge with Sweet Chariot. However, that's just in my head, so not sure about pruning or dead-heading.

Lady Ashe is gorgeous, opuntiamc! I have plans for it in another spot next spring. The fragrance would go unappreciated on the retaining wall. Patty W., I have 2 Darlows and they are both upright. They do have pliable canes, tho. They had gotten too big to prune every year, yet bloomed beautifully. In fact, I cut them to the ground 2 years ago because they were eating one end of my garden and obscuring a path. They are back, as vigorous as ever. They behave like Canadian roses. Ah!, Aqua Eyes, Stanwell Perpetual! I wouldn't have thought of that one. Those fragile (looking) blooms are nice, but mine is stingy with them. It would definitely drape over the rocks. Vineyard Song is another that would closely resemble Super Dorothy on the fence above, Desertgarden. New to me - had to look it up - very pretty! Deadheading and pruning Young Lycidas would be difficult. That's a rose I would like to be able to give more attention to. $3 roses from Lowes would be hard to pass up because I'll need a bunch. I'll definitely keep my eyes peeled for that, vaporvac. Budgets often dictate these decisions. I love pink and red together, and don't have any Drift roses. So many good choices that I would not have thought of. Many, many thanks, all. Love this forum!

Oso easy Fragrant Spreader might be a good option for you, Its not an old rose but it was hybridized specifically to fill in difficult areas with a need for the least amount of maintenance.

Thank you, Seeingreen, for the wonderful reminder! I was just in the garden and thinking that I didn't place my one Fragrant Spreader very well. I do love that rose and it is indeed maintenance free. I'm going to need another retaining wall to use all the good ideas here. I wish I didn't have to wait until spring to get going on it.