Since their introduction in 2000, by rose breeder William Radler, Knock Out roses have received international recognition, earning numerous awards and accolades for their exceptional performance and garden value. Their reputation as a reliable and beautiful rose variety has made them a favourite among gardeners across the globe. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced gardener, today we will explore the many varieties of knockout roses.

The Knock Out Rose ‘Radrazz’:

The Knock Out is the original and iconic variety that started the Knock Out rose revolution. With striking cherry red blossoms, hot pink bloomer with deep, purplish green foliage, this shrub rose catches attention and adds a vibrant burst of colour to any garden. As with all Knock Out roses, the Knock Out rose is known for its exceptional disease resistance, making it a low maintenance choice for both novice and experienced gardeners. This compact shrub rose reaches a height and width of 3 to 4 feet, making it suitable for small gardens, hedges, and container planting. The Knock Out can be planted anywhere, where there is full sun to partial shade in neutral to acidic, moist, loamy soil with decent drainage. Its continuous blooming throughout spring to fall ensures a constant display of beautiful flowers, providing a stunning focal point in any landscape. Crowns will need winter protection in partially cold climates. Prune as needed in late winter to early spring.

Double Knock Out Rose ‘Radtko’:

Double Knock is a captivating variation of the original Knock Out rose. With vibrant double cherry red blossoms, this rose offers a lush and abundant appearance. It shares the exceptional disease resistance and low maintenance characteristics of other knock out roses, making it a popular choice among gardeners. Growing slightly taller, reaching a height and width 3 to 4 feet, the double Knock Out rose is well-suited for borders and mixed flower beds. Its continuous blooming from spring to frost ensures a long-lasting show of stunning flowers, bringing beauty and elegance to any garden. Out of all the Knock Out Roses, the Double Knock thrives best in partly shaded locations.

Peachy Knock Out Rose ‘Radgor’:

The Peachy Knock Out rose is a stunning, hardy shrub with fragrant shell pink flowers and yellow eyes. It blooms from late spring to mid-fall and is ideal for cuttings. The dark green foliage is deciduous, and the shrub produces showy red hips in late fall. With an upright spreading habit, it reaches about 4 feet in height and width. It’s suitable for mass planting, hedges, or general garden use. This low-maintenance shrub is spiny and requires occasional pruning in late winter. It thrives in full sunlight, average to moist soil, and is tolerant of urban pollution. This variety is an interspecific hybrid and can live for approximately 20 years.

Pink Knock Out Rose ‘Radcon’:

The Pink Knock Out rose is a delicate and enchanting variety. With its deep mossy green foliage, and soft pink blooms that exude elegance and charm. Maturing at a height and width of 3 to 4 feet, it works well as a foundation planting or as a backdrop for other flowering plants. Preferring 6 – 8 hours of full sun every day, and in neutral to acid, loamy soil with adequate drainage. Just like other members of the Knock Out family, the Pink Knock Out is black spot resistant, drought-tolerant and self-cleaning, so no deadheading is needed. Best pruned in early spring. 

The Blushing Knock Out Rose ‘Radyod’:

The Blushing Knock Out Rose offers a captivating blend of soft pink and light, yellow tones. Its blossoms start with a delicate pink hue and gradually develop a creamy blush as they age, along with mossy green with hints of blue foliage, adding depth and interest to the plant. Lightly fragrant, the Blushing Knock Out produces roses 3-5” diameter that bloom in clusters (occasionally solitary) from May to frost. The Blushing Knock Out is suitable for borders, walkways, and mass planting. This rose variety is best noted for its ability to bloom in as little as 3 hours per day of direct sunlight.

Sunny Knock Out Rose ‘Radsunny’:

This rose will bring a burst of vibrant yellow to the Knock Out family that stands out in the garden. The flowers are medium-sized, typically around 2-3 inches in diameter and single-petaled. This rose variety has a compact and rounded growth habit and will usually reach the height of 3-4ft, making it a versatile and adaptable rose, fitting well in borders with mix flower beds, or as a standalone specimen. Sunny Knock Outs require full sun exposure, at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. It thrives in well-drained soil with regular watering. Pruning is generally recommended in early spring to remove dead or damaged wood and promote healthy growth.

Rainbow Knock Out Rose ‘Radcor’:

This rose being true to its name, showcases a multi-colored blend of hues that include shades of yellow, pink, and apricot. The colours can vary from flower to flower, and sometimes even within a single bloom, creating a beautiful display of contrasting tones. Similar to other Knock Out varieties, this rose has a compact growth habit and typically reaches a height and width of 3-4ft. Blooming occurs in Spring and continues until the first frost.  When selecting companion plants, consider a Salvia, the tall spikes of Salvia flowers provide a lovely contrast to the Rainbow Knock Out rose’s colorful blooms.

Coral Knock Out Rose ‘Radral’:

the Coral Knock Out is known for its stunning warm, rich coral hue, which typically intensifies in cooler weather, adding to its visual appeal. Alongside medium-sized blooms that merge in clusters creating a beautiful display of color against glossy dark green foliage. While the Coral Knock Out rose is not known for its fragrance, some individuals may detect a light, pleasant scent from the blooms. The fragrance can vary from plant to plant and may be more noticeable in certain environmental conditions.

Petite Knock Out ‘Meibenbino’:

The Petite Knock Out makes for the perfect indoor house plant out of all the Knock Out varieties.  The Petite features bright red flowers that bloom endlessly from mid-spring to mid-fall. This low maintenance rose exhibits superior disease resistance and grows to a high and width of approximately 18 inches. The dark green deciduous foliage adds to its ornamental appeal. It is recommended for mass planting, border edging, general garden use, and container planting. It is adaptable to various soil types and pH levels and is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This variety is an interspecific hybrid and can live for approximately 20 years.

The diverse array of Knock Out rose varieties provides gardeners with an extensive pallet to choose from when adding colour, beauty and fragrance to their outdoor spaces. Whether you prefer the classic red, soft pink, vibrant yellow, or a captivating blend of colours there is a knockout rose variety to suit every taste and preference. With exceptional disease resistance, and low maintenance requirements, Knock Out roses continue to be a favourite among gardening enthusiasts, who desire stunning blooms without the fuss. So, go ahead and explore the world of Knock Out roses to enhance your garden and the beauty and joy they bring throughout the seasons.