Is the issue water, or the slope? Water shouldn't be a problem. I have wild multiflora seedlings coming up in the swamp. So long as they are planted above the usual water table, they can handle it. To a certain extent, the smaller the better so they can put their roots where they want to.

Regarding erosion on a slope, that isn't one of my problems.

True Blue, Peggy Martin is a great idea. I will try her!

Mad, that is good information to have. I guess I was more concerned about what could be regularly flooded and deeply rooted enough to not float down stream. The water can be torrential during rains...

Susan

I wonder if Red Cascade -- in my brain because I mentioned it elsewhere -- and Mel's Heritage would do well for you there. They repeat-bloom, and will likely root along their canes where they touch the ground.

:-)

~Christopher

Those are great suggestions Christopher. Don't know why I didn't think of them. I've also contacted the county soil conservation folks. After I apply they will come out and take a look and see if I "qualify" for help and then in a year or so they will help.

Susan

have you ever seen Henri Barruet or Paul Transon ?

Both multiflora and wichurana hybrids thrive in Tennessee. Even in our reddest organic poor clays.

The wichuranas tip root more readily and the once bloomer Gardenia is a survivor all over the state (and outwits road crews as it grows back readily when the upper bush is scalped by bush hogs.

You might also want to add some R. carolina which sends out runners.

Don't worry about submersing roses; they bounce back along our creek beds. Only problem with multiflora is the tendency of some of them to go thirty feet up trees (and with RRD in our lives that isn't good.)

Thanks you all! Great suggestions! I have Gardenia going up an old dogwood here and will root some for the farm. I have massive tulip poplars on the banks so they can climb all they want. I am going to have to be constantly vigilant on the RRD front but I'm not giving in to that plague. I'm still in the honeymoon phase.

Susan

It's not a rambler, but what about Rosa palustris, the swamp (and creek bank) rose? Carol

That'a a very pretty tree Susan. I had never heard of it before!

You will have to stabilize the slope as well as clear it of all weeds beforehand for this to not become a nightmare - do you have any previous experience with roses as ground cover? Or gardening on slopes?

Carol, I have r. Palustris and she is going out there near a tall dead tree on the bank of a small stream running thorough the property.

Alana, The Tulip Poplar is the state tree of TN and often found near running water. It is a pretty tree. I have several that have been there a very long time.

Embothrium, OMG you SAVED ME! I didn't even think about that. I have to mow the bank and roses will NOT work there. That would've been an awful rookie mistake, kinda like putting Mel's Heritage next to the hose spigot....duh.

I'm sure there is a place I can put all of these gorgeous ramblers though.

Thanks again everyone!

Susan

Picture weeding among thorny tentacles, while trying to maintain position on a slope.