Knockout roses were first introduced in 1999 as a tough and hardy rose that is exceptionally resistant to disease and an ability to withstand a wide range of harsh conditions. As such, they require little attention from the gardener in order to produce satisfactory results making them perfect for a beginning gardener. This has made it one of fastest selling new roses when it was introduced.

The knockout rose is a shrub that will grow pretty much anywhere you choose to plant it. It shows exemplary hardiness under a variety of conditions, and grows equally well in sun or the shade. However, for best results use soil with a neutral pH balance (6.6-7.5), use a soaker hose, and expose them to full sun. If full sun is not available, don't sweat it. Knockout roses are quite shade tolerant and can flourish with as little as four hours of sun per day. Be sure to prune them early to promote new growth.

Each shrub will produce three-inch diameter blooms and grow up to four feet high and three feet wide, so space your plants appropriately. If you choose, knockout roses can also be trained as a tree form. The flowers will bloom in late spring to early summer.

The color of the flowers will depend on the weather. Warm summer months result in cherry red petals while cool weather brings fire-engine red colors. The foliage, meanwhile, produces a dark, purplish-green color that turns to a dark burgundy in the fall. The knockout is also said to be the longest blooming rose on the market.

The Resilience of the Knockout Rose

Through careful breeding, the knockout rose has gained a strong reputation of hardiness with an ability to grow under virtually any conditions, even proving resiliently resistant to mildew, rust, and black spot.

Whether you live in the humidity of the Florida coast or the dry desert of Arizona, knockout roses can handle both extreme environments and are drought resistant. Because roses in general are weak and quite disease prone, the knockout rose is a perfect choice for anybody having difficulty maintaining a healthy rose garden, or has been wishing for a virtually carefree rose bush.

Thanks to their resiliency and ability to grow with little tending, you can expect to find knockout roses appearing in many gardens across the country. If you're looking for a rose that won't cause you to pull your hair out, then knockout roses are the rose for you.