Could you not use cpio(1)/tar(1) & ssh e.g. something along the lines of ...

find <dir> | cpio -omd | ssh <host> "cd <tgt dir> ; cpio -i"
[download]

or similar ?

For example, to transfer a local lib directory from a Linux host to an AIX host, I can do...

pointo1d@unforgiven:~/workspace/IBM-Common-Collection$ find lib | cpio
+ -o | ssh root@aker "cd /tmp ; cpio -idm"
111 blocks
111 blocks
[download]

Just a thought ...