Why is the Knock Out Rose So Popular?
The knock out rose is the most popular rose in North America. This rose was bred by William Radler and 250,000 were sold in 2000, the very first year it was introduced. It was also an All American Award winner that year. Since then, the rose has done nothing but grow in popularity, so much so that some gardeners complain the older types of roses are being totally ignored in favor of knockouts. There are now seven different knockouts which come in several colors and double as well as single blossoms. Each one has several characteristics which were specifically bred into the rose by Radler, whose goal was to make a rose that needed very little maintenance. Many people think Radler bred this shrub rose so that beginners would have an easier time successfully getting into rose gardening. But that wasn’t his first goal. He bred the knockout roses so that he could grow more and more roses. Normally, roses do require a lot of care. When you have several hundred of them, it takes a huge amount
