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Knockout Roses

Rosa

The Landscape Workhorse: Knock Out® Roses (Rosa 'Radrazz')


The Snapshot

  • Common Name: Knock Out Rose

  • Scientific Name: Rosa 'Radrazz' (and its many color variants)

  • Hardiness: Zones 5 – 11 (Extremely hardy in all of NJ).

  • The "Vibe": Energetic, tireless, and bold; the "high-definition" color of the suburbs.

Why They Are a Jersey Neighborhood Icon

  • The "Ever-bloomer": While old-fashioned roses bloom once and quit, Knock Outs are "bloom machines." They start in late May and will continue to pump out flowers in cycles every 5–6 weeks until the first hard freeze (often into November in NJ).

  • No Spraying Required: Most roses in NJ's humid summers get "Black Spot" (the leaves turn yellow and drop). Knock Outs are genetically resistant to this. You never have to touch a bottle of fungicide.

  • Self-Cleaning: You don't have to "deadhead" (clip off dead flowers). The plant simply drops the old petals and grows new flowers right over them.

  • Drought & Salt Tough: Once established, they are incredibly drought-tolerant and handle the salt air of the Jersey Shore better than almost any other flowering shrub.

Stories from the Garden

"I used to think I couldn't grow roses because I'm a 'brown thumb' gardener. I planted a row of Double Red Knock Outs along my sunny driveway in Edison, and they have been flawless. They survived the 100-degree heatwave last July and were still blooming while my neighbor's lawn was turning brown. They are the easiest, most colorful thing in my yard. I just give them a 'haircut' once a year in March and they do the rest."

— Ramesh K., Zone 7 Gardener (Edison, NJ)


Designer Tips: Where to Plant

  • The "Curb Appeal" Hedge: Plant a row of Double Reds 3 feet apart along your front foundation. It creates a "wall of fire" that makes your house the star of the block.

  • The "Stop Sign": Use a single Knock Out at the corner of a walkway or driveway. Its intense color acts as a visual "anchor" for the eye.

  • The "Rose & Grass" Mix: Pair Knock Outs with Ornamental Grasses (like Pennisetum or Panicum). The soft, swaying texture of the grass contrasts perfectly with the bold, structured rose.

Designer Pro-Tip: The "March Chop." Every year in late March (when the Forsythia starts to bloom), take a pair of hedge shears and cut your Knock Outs back to about 12–18 inches from the ground. It feels cruel, but it forces the plant to grow back thick, lush, and covered in 5x more flowers than if you left it alone.

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