Knock Out

Knock Out® roses growing in a garden bed

William Radler developed the Knockout Rose in 1989.

The Knock Out Family of Roses is Radler’s crowning horticultural achievement. He has been a rose enthusiast since the age of nine and is now in his 70s.

He began trying to develop an easy-care rose at a very early age. In fact, he says that fixing roses was one of his first horticultural goals.

Radler approached the problem in a unique way by selecting and propagating roses for hardiness and disease resistance first and flower production second.

He began his project in 1974 and only began meeting with success in the late 1980s when he developed the strain he labeled 89 – 20.1.

This proved to be the breakthrough rose that was easy to grow, disease-resistant, and capable of producing billowing clouds of lovely, pinkish-red roses throughout the entire summer.

It was not until the early 1990s that Radler’s new strain of rose took off and attained the name “Knock Out”.

In 1992 a company known as Star Roses & Plants near Philadelphia signed a contract with Radler to begin testing on his new rose, a process which took eight years.

With the required testing complete, the company filed for a patent and named the new, easy-care rose Knockout. Sales began in the year 2000.

It became quickly apparent that Knockout Rose bushes would be wildly popular. In fact, the stellar performance of the Knockout Rose bush allowed it to be named the All American Rose Selections winner in the year 2000.

Today, with over 90 million plants sold, they have made Radler a wealthy man. These easy-care roses are now available in seven different varieties in nurseries and home improvement centers across the nation.

The All America Rose Selections committee named the original red shrub Knock Out® rose one of its winners in 2000. Soon Knock Outs became the best-selling new rose on the market.
 
Today the family of Knockout roses is still one of the most popular roses in North America.
 
Knockouts are known for their resistance to disease, vibrant colors, and hardiness.
 
Currently, there are 11 varieties in the Knock Out® Rose family.
 
These roses are tested and evaluated for insect and disease resistance, repeated blooming, winter hardiness, and many other desired qualities.

Tips On Growing The Pink Double Knockout Rose

Blooming shrub of "Pink Double Knock Out" roses

When the original Knock Out Rose was introduced in 2000, the All American Rose Selection created waves among gardening enthusiasts as the first low-maintenance rose hybrid. As of 2020, there

Can You Grow Knockout Roses In Zone 5?

Rose - Pink Knock Out Zone 5

Cold-tolerant Knockout Rose shrubs are typically winter hardy to USDA hardiness zone 5. With a few extra steps, you may be able to protect your roses in even cooler climates. 

Growing The Yellow Knock Out Rose

Full Bloomed Yellow Knockout Rose in Midwest Garden

Knockout roses are a beautiful, lower-maintenance alternative to the classic rose. Easy to grow and not too picky, these beautiful flowers will bloom all season long with no complaint. The

Tips On Growing Knockout Roses In Containers

Pink Double Knock Out rose flower - Deep pink.

Knockout roses are a fantastic, sturdy variety of rose developed by William Radler. Since 2000, when knockout roses became commercially available, they have bloomed in popularity. Serving as an attractive,

When Do Knockout Roses Start Blooming?

Blooming Knock out roses, when do they start flowering?

Knockout roses care is low-maintenance. This hardy rose is an ideal shrub even for gardeners with limited experience. This family of roses produces vivid red, yellow, or pink rose blossoms