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Resurrecting the Rose By
David
L. Hill II
Roses. The word alone can evoke panic in a gardener's mind if they have ever had to maintain and care for them. All the problems that seem to follow these beautiful plants (black spot, powdery mildew, rust, insect damage, etc.) can leave only disappointment in the height of summer when they are supposed to be looking their best. This leaves many gardeners with no choice but to remove the rose from their landscape and replace it with a plant that is not so demanding of time and labor.
Given the intensive maintenance schedule and the sometimes extra attention they deserve, the rose can simply be examined as merely "a rose", with negative connotations attached! There is a way to incorporate the rose back into the landscape and bypass the usual stigma that seems to follow these plants.
The original red Knockout (2000) is a very well behaved shrub reaching a maximum height of 4' to 5' (un-pruned) and 4' in width. The bloom coloration is a deep magenta that is spectacular throughout the entire season. In fall, the leaves turn to a dark burgundy and coupled with the bright orange hips that are produced gives the gardener a wonderful autumn exhibit. Introduced in 2004, the Blushing Knockout (Rosa x 'Radyod') is a pink variety that is truly a unique shrub. The bloom color begins as blushing pink, whitish/pink marl, and as it matures the color undergoes a transition into a solid shell pink. The leaves are an interesting mossy green color with a slight bluish hue that will surely stand out in any landscape. The same as all other Knockouts, the Blushing is cold hardy to zone 4 and can tolerate mild shade.
There will be two sought after plants this spring gardening season.
This year the nursery industry is introducing the newest line of
Knockouts that are sure to bring a smile to any gardener's face.
The Double Pink and the Rainbow Knockout (Rosa x 'Radcor') will
be available this year at your local The Double Pink Knockout shares many of the same characteristics as the red with two new improvements: increased winter hardiness and slightly higher tolerance for shade. The petal counts are the same as the red (18 to 25) combined with the 3 to 6 blooms per stem which results in a bolder color display. One feature of the new Double Pink is the shear brilliance of the intense bubble gum pink-colored blooms. This is the brightest color of all the Knockouts to date. If the garden is lackluster or simply needs an updated splash of color, this could be a key ingredient.
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Gertrude
Stein's famous quote "a rose is a rose is a rose" seems
to ring in the ears of any gardener who failed with roses and believes
Miss Stein spoke only in truth! 
In
2000, the now famous Wisconsin rose breeder, William Radler introduced
the world to his new hybrid shrub rose he simply titled "Knockout".
With this introduction, the gardener can now bring the rose back
into their landscapes with virtually no fear of their past experiences
with hybrid teas, floribundas and grandifloras.
What
sets the Knockout Roses (Rosa x 'Radrazz') apart are the many attributes
they posses that is completely opposite of the traditional rose.
When juxtaposed to one another, the Knockout is at the other end
of the gardening spectrum! These shrub roses are virtually maintenance
free (no deadheading necessary), highly disease and insect resistant
(i.e. black spot, powdery mildew, rust, etc.), and can tolerate
light shade. The sizing, with shape-pruning during the growing season,
is generally 3' tall and 3' wide with a natural round shape that
is easily maintained. The blooms begin to appear in late May or
early June and lasts until the heaviest fall frost. Many gardening
professionals have claimed that it is one of the longest blooming
roses on the market today.
Since
the birth of the original Knockout, it seems virtually every season
brings the introduction of a new variety. 2005 saw the rise of the
red Double Knockout which is a great triumph by green industry standards.
The Double is more dense and compact than the other Knockouts which
could make a nice addition to a sunny area of the landscape that
is limited in space and color deficient! The average petal count
on the Double is 18 to 25 which is twice the amount found on standard
Knockouts. Although the flower itself is
The
Rainbow is a more compact variety of Knockout which would compliment
smaller gardens and tight spots in the landscape. In full sun this
shrub is an astounding feature that would not be overlooked. The
blooms open from rich coral buds to a shade of orange, then quickly
turn to a brilliant coral pink with a yellow center. The leaves
are a glossy, dark green shade that serves as an exquisite backdrop
for the outstanding