Photos by Amy Moon

One of the hottest new plants to hit the nurseries and garden centers in the last few years is the “knockout rose.”  Perhaps it was my love for gardening and my passion for the sport of boxing (some combination) that first peaked my interest in this breakthrough rose cultivar.  With a name like “knockout,” I had a hunch that this rose had to be something really special, and special it is!

 

(Left) - Blushing Knockout

Most folks love roses, but dread all the work and time required to maintain a healthy rose plant—like waging a war against black spot disease that you never seem to win, or nuking your roses with insecticides for Japanese beetle control each summer. 

And oh yes, the deadheading and the regular feeding of your roses that is often necessary to keep them in bloom.  If you want stunning roses, but can do without the high maintenance and frustrations, the Knock Out® Rose is for you!

This beautiful shrub rose variety is as carefree as a flowering plant could be, and will delight you with non-stop magnificent blooms from spring until a hard frost in late fall.  Another attribute of the Knock Out® Rose is its ability to perform with lower light requirements (four hours each day).  Other rose varieties will typically need at least six full hours of sun.  The “knockout” also happens to thrive in humid climates such as our Cape Fear region.  Once your “knockout rose” becomes well established, it is fairly drought tolerant.  The petals of the “knockout roses” seem to fall off cleanly, so no deadheading is required.  You may never again have to drag out the arsenal of pesticides, as the knockout family of roses tends to be resistant to Japanese beetle feeding, black spot, powdery mildew, and other minor diseases.  And for Islanders, the “knockout roses” seem to handle our breezy conditions much better than other rose selections.

A RAINBOW OF CHOICES

 

(left) Pink Knockout

The “knockout rose” is a bush rose, meaning that it is dense and compact.  The plant averages about three-to-four-feet in height, and about three-feet wide.  It makes a great border plant or foundation planting.  Because of its compact, lower growing nature, the “knockout” can be awesome when planted in groupings along an entrance area.  The color selection in the family of “knockout roses” seems to be growing as fast as the popularity of this wonderful plant.  The Radrazz cultivar is fire engine or cherry red, and will produce three-and-a-half-inch blooms throughout the summer.  For twice the beauty, check out the Double Knock Out® Radtko cultivar.  It too is red, but will produce twice as many petals per flower.

 If you’re not into red roses, try the Blushing Knock Out®.  This light pink bloom will change into shell pink as the bloom matures.  The foliage is mossy green with a blue hue.  If you’re looking for something darker than the Blushing Knock Out® but lighter than the red Knock Out®, you might want to look for the Pink Knock Out® Rose.”  This plant has a powerful pink, almost fluorescent-looking bloom.  If you’re looking to double your pleasure, there is also a Double Pink Knock Out® available.  And as you might suspect, your investment in the double blooming varieties might also “double” compared to the single bloomers.

One of the newer “knockout” cultivars recently released is called Sunny.  The bud of this rose is bright yellow turning to a creamy white as it fully opens.  This plant is available in a single bloom only, but will look great in front of some larger, dark green plants to help bring out the light color of the bloom.

Another new “knockout” variety that I have not had the pleasure to work with is the Rainbow Knock Out®.”  This rose has a coral pink bloom with a rich yellow center.  The plant itself tends to be slightly smaller than some of the other “knockout roses.”

Regardless of which color “knockout rose” appeals to you, remember that all the rose cultivars in the Knock Out® family have that lower maintenance, easy to grow quality that we all seem to look for.

Although “knockout roses” are lower maintenance than many of the traditional rose varieties, there are a few basic tips that will help insure optimum success with your roses.  “Knockouts” will need at least four hours of sun each day.  Plant them in mellow, well-drained, organic-rich soil.  Water them daily the first week of establishment, and water the roots using a drip irrigation system, or hose.  Roses respond well to organic fertilizers such as sea kelp and fish emulsion during late spring and summer.

A new and exciting “breakthrough” plant variety seems to be introduced to our industry every few years.  In the late 1990s, the Encore Azalea was the talk of the town.  The idea of a multiple blooming azalea was applauded by many who wanted to enjoy their azaleas throughout the growing season.  And now, we have a rose that will produce wonderful blooms for many months with minimal care!  One has to wonder what these brilliant plant breeders will come up with next …..stay tuned.

Author Bio: MARK A. TAMN has been in the lawn and landscape industry for over thirty years.  Mark is an agronomist, NC Certified Turf grass Professional, Radio talk show host of “In the Garden,” author of the book Olde Time Gardening For New Age Concerns, and President Of Freedom Lawns USA and Freedom Franchises, Inc.