Knock Out Rose Lives Up to its Name (My 100th Reveiw!)
Written: May 24 '08 (Updated May 24 '08)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Healthy, easy to grow, doesn't need a lot of sun or care.
Cons: No fragrance.
The Bottom Line: Grow this rose!
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| laura10801's Full Review: Garden Roses Rose Knock Out Pp#11,836 |
I never thought I'd write 100 reviews, but here I am, at 100! WOOT WOOT WOOTY WOOT! In honor of this being my 100th review, I am writing about a big success that I never would have predicted having. I am writing about the Knock Out Rose.
I never thought I would be able to grow roses. Roses are fussy things, and much too much skill is required to grow them successfully... Or so I thought. Boy was I wrong! I am currently growing 7 different rose cultivars, and I am surprised at how well most of them are doing. This is because I chose roses that are easy to care for and not very demanding. It is surprising how many roses fit the bill. Perhaps the easiest, most rewarding rose so far has been the Knock Out Rose.
Knock Out was developed to withstand almost about anything a completely incompetent gardener could throw at it. Unlike most roses, it tolerates partial shade. No wait, it tolerates a lot of shade. According to the care directions that came with my plant, it can thrive in as little as 3-4 hours of direct sun a day! This is unheard of!
I have it growing in a pot. That's right - a big pot, 20 inches in diameter. I have it in a spot that gets at least 5-6 hours of sun a day and it is already blooming. It started blooming in mid-May! None of my other roses are blooming yet, although most of them have buds, but Knock Out produces early, and keeps on producing until frost. It is hearty to zone 4, which means that it will perform well in Canada! I live in zone 6, and I expect my rose to survive the winter in the same pot, with protection from the elements.
Knock Out Rose is resistant to disease. Keep in mind resistant to disease doesn't mean it is immune, it just means that it is not likely to be overcome with any disease. I have not sprayed this rose with anything, and I have yet to see a single leaf develop black spot, rust, or mildew!
Like all roses, Knock Out likes water. This is especially important because it is in a pot and its roots cannot go in search of water. I water it daily and when it gets hot I will probably water it twice a day. I have slow release fertilizer scattered over the top of the soil, and that is all the care I have given this rose. Supposedly, it does not require deadheading in order to keep blooming all season, I have not yet decided whether to put this to the test, but if I ever do give up deadheading, I will let you know the results. Why work harder than you have to on a plant to get the same results, right?
The blooms, themselves, are single crimson flowers, with yellow centers. They are very pretty, but they have no fragrance whatsoever. I suppose this can be a mixed blessing, there are people who prefer roses with no fragrance, but I am someone who loves fragrance.
If you decide to try this rose, be careful. There are sports and namesakes that are not the same as Knock Out. There's Pink Knock Out, which is pink and I'm told is pretty much the same as the original; Rainbow Knock Out, which is supposedly a sport of the original (meaning it is a natural color mutation, but the same in every other way), but I have heard from several people that is not nearly as healthy or vigorous as the original. And then there is Double Knock Out, this cultivar is marketed as Knock Out with double flowers, instead of single flowers. Buyer beware! Double Knock Out is only hearty to zone 6 and it is a lot bigger than the original, which is supposed to be 3 feet wide and 3 feet tall.
I am very fond of Knock Out Rose. It is so flexible and healthy that I actually feel kind of like I could be considered a successful successful rosarian. Oh, and here's some icing on the cake, it has a long vase life. I've had a few blooms in a vase for a week now and they are still looking good.
If you are new to rose growing and find it intimidating, or if you just don't have perfect growing conditions, you absolutely should try this rose! I recommend it with no ambivalence at all!
Recommended:
Yes
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laura10801
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Member: Laura
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow
Reviews written: 112
Trusted by: 136 members
About Me:
A patient asked if I ever have problems.
"Do physicians ever get sick?" I replied.
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