My hunt for the common moss rose has been partially nostalgic (my mother grew this rose) and because I love it's fragrance and am fascinated by it's mossy form.
What I remember of her grow method - in a long and sometimes harsh northern winter climate: This rose was planted in zone 4b next to the sun warmed concrete foundation of our house with a south exposure and protected from winter winds by large lilac bushes. Dead canes were cut out each spring before leaf buds began to swell and I remember her pruning the entire bush to the ground only one time after a particularly brutal (down to -40F) winter.
This rose never grew much taller than 4 ft with 2 to 2.5"blossoms, but it readily spread by suckering. Year after year it grew and blossomed - a little hardy trooper.
