While you might not think of roses as a beginner plant, the Knock Out Rose can prove you wrong. Beloved by many gardeners for its hardiness, this plant is decidedly one of the best roses to care for as a beginner (and one that’s still appreciated by expert gardeners, too).
This year marks the Knock Out roses’s 25th anniversary, and we’re ready to celebrate. Whether you want to learn how to plant and care for the Knock Out Rose or just dig into why it’s one of the very best roses ever bred, read on.
Why the Knock Out Rose Is Such a Knock Out
“The Knock Out rose has become an icon in gardens and landscapes across the country,” says Bradd Yoder, President at Star Roses and Plants. “Its ability to thrive with minimal care has made it a favorite among casual gardeners and professionals alike. Celebrating 25 years of success is a testament to its timeless appeal and extraordinary genetics.”
Unlike other rose varieties, the Knock Out rose is incredibly easy to care for—there’s no need to fertilize them or deadhead them. They’re also very cold hardy plants, so don’t require a lot of prep to baby them through the winter like some other roses do. And they’ve got good resistance to common rose diseases like black spot and powdery mildew so you don’t have to constantly treat them to have them look good. While not every Knock Out rose has a scent, there are two varieties that smell just as good as they look: Sunny Knock Out and White Knock Out, which were introduced in 2006 and 2018 respectively.
Best of all, Knock Out Roses bloom much more regularly than many other roses. You can plant them in the spring or fall, but you’re likely to enjoy sporadic blooms all throughout the year until the first frost hits. You’ll find your plant producing both small bursts and huge waves of buds. With every bloom lasting up to six weeks, you get a delightfully-constant array of fresh flowers. And depending on your plant hardiness zone, you may see your Knock Out Rose bloom perpetually.
How the Knock Out Rose Continues to Grow
First created in the 1980s by independent rose breeder William Radler, the Knock Out rose became available for the public to purchase in 2000. Thanks to its vibrant colors, hardiness, and long-lasting blooms, the Knock Out rose soared in popularity as soon as it was introduced. To this day, it remains one of the most common rose varieties across the U.S.
Over time, more and more varieties have been introduced. This means that you can find a wide range of colors and blooms available within the Knock Out Rose family—including a Petite Knock Out rose that’s perfect for decorating your porch or using as an accent on your outdoor dining table.
The Knock Out Rose family continues to grow; Easy Bee-zy and Orange Glow are the latest varieties, introduced in 2024. Each year, new types are stringently tested to see if they meet the standards to be added. There are currently 12 total Knock Out roses, though you can expect to see more on the market in the future.
If you’re looking to bring the beauty of a Knock Out rose to your own garden, all you really have to know when planting is that it needs six to eight hours of full sun and pH neutral soil. Whether you want to enjoy the flowers in a single container or transform your garden into a beautiful rose haven, you won’t run into any trouble when it comes to planting the bushes. Most Knock Out roses thrive in USDA Hardiness Zones 4-11.
