Share / Save
Helping You Become a More Successful Gardener

These Roses are Knock Outs!

Email Email Page Print Print Page
Dr. Gerald Klingaman

Extras

Add Photo to Journal Add Photo to Journal
Knockout Closeup 
Photo Credit: Gerald L. Klingaman
The original Knock Out® rose has beautiful cherry red blooms.
It seems roses are back! True, they never completely disappeared, but roses did go through a temporary setback with everyday gardeners – the plants were just too much work. But that all changed with the Knock Out® rose, perhaps the hottest thing to ever hit the rose world!

The original Knock Out is a shrub rose growing about 3 feet wide and tall. It produces clusters of single, 3-inch-diameter, cherry red flowers at the tips of branches that keep on blooming all summer long! In fact, some say it’s one of the longest-blooming roses on the market. While the blooms aren’t well-suited for cutflowers, they look great in a sunny spot in the garden and give off a pretty, light tea rose fragrance. Come fall, the foliage turns a deep purple, adding depth and interest to your autumn garden.

Add Photo to JournalAdd Photo to Journal
Knockout by Pond 
Photo Credit: Gerald L. Klingaman
Knock Out® roses are wonderfully disease-resistant, cold-hardy shrubs that keep on blooming all season long.
There are just so many great things to love about this rose! Not only is it a fantastically continuous bloomer, you don’t have to waste time removing spent blooms to encourage new flowers – it’s pretty much a “self-cleaner.” And when it comes to disease resistance, this beauty’s a hands-down winner. In fact, Knock Out was bred specifically to be a cold-hardy rose resistant to a variety of maladies, especially black spot. What’s more, this beauty is drought-tolerant once established!

Like most roses, Knock Out grows best in full sun or very light shade in a fertile, well-drained soil. And this plant works almost anywhere in the country – it’s hardy from USDA hardiness zones 4-10!

Facts
  • In 1988, rose breeder William Radler crossed seedlings of ‘Carefree Beauty’ and ‘Razzle Dazzle’ (both hardy roses with good disease resistance) to create the original Knock Out® rose (Rosa ‘Radrazz’). In 1992, The Conard-Pyle Co./Star® Roses began testing the plant. In 2000, the shrub won the prestigious All-America Rose Selections award and hit the market. Knock Out quickly became the fastest-selling new rose in history, with 250,000 sold the first year!
  • Roses typically have two names: the common names they’re sold by and the botanical names that specifically identify each horticulturally. Knock Out® rose is also known as Rosa ‘Radrazz’, Pink Knock Out® is R. ‘Radcon’, Blushing Knock Out® is R. ‘Radyod’, Double Knock Out® is R. ‘Radtko’, Pink Double Knock Out® is R. ‘Radtkopink’, Rainbow Knock Out® is R. ‘Radcor’ and Sunny Knock Out® is R. ‘Radsunny’.
Tips
  • Roses are heavy feeders. Whether you’re an organic gardener or use conventional fertilizers, keep this in mind when developing a fertilization regime.
Buy
 
Page 1 of 2

Next Steps


Articles
  • A Rose for Every Garden
    Everyone loves roses. And you can grow them right in your own yard…if you make the right selections. Here’s a look at the history of this old-time favorite, as well as a few rose basics.
  • A Landscape Rose for Every Purpose
    Today’s new rose varieties are easy to grow and ready to stop traffic. Looking for a rose to add a rich spot of color in your landscape? Here are the qualities you want to look for when making your selection.
  • Rose Primer – Types of Flowers
    Why is it so confusing to buy a rose? Because there are so many kinds! If you’re feeling anxious about getting the wrong rose for your garden – or want to know what type to get for Mom – find out what you’re buying first.
RATE THIS PAGE
On average this item has been rated a 4 out of 5.