How to Grow Knockout Roses

If there is one type rose bush that is in greater demand than any other it would be the Knockout Rose. Developed by A&M University and introduced in 2000, the Knockout Rose is drought tolerant, disease resistant and best of all doesn't get much mildew and black spot. The bloom is not the same as the tea rose, which is what most folks have in mind when they think of a rose, but are more of an antique type of rose with single rose petals around a white or yellow throat although a double red and pink variety are now available. They are a great drought tolerant landscape plant. They grow 4-6 feet tall and 3-5 feet wide, are frost tolerant in zones 4-9, and bloom from spring to frost. They grow best if spaced 4-6 feet apart so they get good air circulation. Water well the first year to get established and fertilize with a good rose fertilizer. A layer of mulch placed around the root system will help conserve moisture and help control weeds.

The knockout rose has received what is called "Earthkind Rose" designation from Texas A&M. The researchers started with more than 117 rose varieties. The intent was to identify the most carefree beautiful roses ever developed. At the end of the five-year study, 11 of the tested varieties performed well enough to receive the designation as Earthkind, despite adverse growing conditions and an almost complete lack of maintenance. Each rose had to grow in either acidic or very alkaline soil, have spectacular blooms, and require little or no pesticide. Also, the roses were never watered after the first year, never fertilized and only pruned to remove spent blooms. I have tried most of the different earthkind roses and my favorites besides the knockout variety is the Caldwell Pink with a double pink flower, and the Belinda's Dream with pink fragrant blooms.

The earthkind roses shouldn't get all the attention for a tough rose. There are others such as the Almost Wild Pink Rose with pink blooms all summer and another one of my favorites, the Martha Gonzales rose with red blooms similar to the knockout rose and good disease resistance.