Bred from Knockout roses, Home Run rose is extremely disease resistant and in my mind one of the best new red roses for the garden, should you be comfortable with single roses (which hopefully you will be). Knockout roses, both the original and offspring such as Pink Knockout roses, are extremely disease resistant and a laugh (in more ways than one) to grow. It says something about the toughness of Knockout roses when highway departments begin planting them…see this photograph of some ridiculously healthy knockout roses as proof. Home Run roses share the basic good qualities of Knockout Roses, but also offers up lovely lovely red roses of single-form. Five scarlet petals surround bright yellow stamens. True red in the landscape is always welcome.

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Technorati Tags: Knockout roses, Home Run roses

Recently I’ve covered the original Knockout rose as well as Pink Knockout rose as garden plants, and thought I’d pass on some insight into effective garden placement. This advice applies to garden roses (and indeed garden planting design) as well. The way most people plant Knockout roses is as a single specimen plant or in mass. However, a friend of mine pointedly pointed out that the newish versions of Knockout roses allow for mixing in the garden. The fortunate thing (I wonder if the breeders envisioned this) is that the color tones of different varieties of Knockout roses are sympathetic to each other. An example in the photograph to the right demonstrates a stepping down from the original Knockout rose to a Pink Knockout rose to a light pink in the background, which if memory serves me is Bonica. A really effective planting and perhaps a way to use these tough and desirable roses with some artistry in the garden.

Recently, I wrote a briefish introduction to Knockout roses, and with the introduction of Pink Knockout roses and 2007’s Rainbow Knockout roses, there is ample evidence of hybridizing efforts aimed at toning down the brash color of the original Knockout rose while maintaining the vigor and good health charactistics of this line of shrub roses. Excellent roses for beginners, although I heard an interesting point of view from a nursery woman I greatly respect that suggests Knockout roses may end up being a victim of their own success.

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Knockout roses have been the rage in recent years. Introduced in 1999 by Star Roses, and an AARS winner, Knockout roses have been the subject of some controversy (the ‘why’ in a bit) within the rose community. Truthfully, I had to conduct some soul-searching of my own about this rose. Even my mother started a crusade to get some type of answer out of me with regards to the Knockout rose. After much consideration, I have to (surprisingly to those who know me and even to myself) give the Knockout rose an enthusiastic thumbs up. A little late perhaps, as it seems the market has already spoken. So what exactly is the deal with Knockout roses?

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