New Knock Out Rose Introduced! A Petite Version
By Jill Brooke
Big news in the rose world.
Knock Out roses, those history-making reblooming, disease-resistant flowers that Will Radler created in 2000, now come in what Star Roses and Plants are calling, “the petite Knock Out rose.”
This is the first-ever miniature rose of its kind created after years of research and development.
Unlike the small roses you may buy at a supermarket that die after a week or so, these are plants that rebloom all season long! With the same quality, you can rely on from larger Knock Out roses that are the go-to for interior decorators and landscapers in creating outdoor gardens. To date, over 150 million Knock Out roses have been sold.
Why petite?
Because people are living in smaller spaces, says Star Roses and Plants spokesperson Leah Palmer. Especially millennials who are interested in nature and plants in record numbers but don’t have large properties.
On the other spectrum, there are grandparents who may have downsized but miss gardening and this offers them a scent and sensibility of having a rose bush that’s easily accessible
Plus, this is the ideal solution for patio containers for people to enjoy roses while sipping a gin and tonic or lemonade.
Another bonus is that if you have a garden of any size, this 18” rose bush will be great for borders. Just plant them in front of bouncy hydrangeas or purple salvias.
Research supports why this is a smart move.
An Axiom marketing study found that post-covid, newly-minted gardeners, which number over 18 million, still want to garden with 47% saying they are inspired now to plant even more flowers in 2021. Not only was flower growing the most popular activity, but 32% ranked container gardening high on their list.
Okay, you may be wondering if you can bring the petite Knock Out roses indoors.
“Yes, you can bring them indoors but we recommend it only for two to three weeks and then bring them outdoors,” says Palmer.
As of now, they only come in red. But the company which has been producing quality flowers since 1897, is hoping to have a range of colors in the next 3-5 years. It normally takes 8 to 10 years to get a rose to market, but this took 5 years.
“We have some plants in trials but we want to make sure they fit the Knock Out® Family of Roses high standards before bringing them to market,” explains Palmer.
I have been a fan of knock out roses because I like low maintenance. There’s no dead-heading. These beauties are tolerant of harsh conditions. They are so reliable, which you can’t say about many things these days. Some purists moan that they may have more thorns but that doesn’t bother me. They look so great and voluptuous in any garden and fill up space so efficiently. And what other flower blooms so profusely? Nothing compares.
In the past at Flowerpowerdaily, garden expert Linda Lee and I would debate the merits of Knock Out roses. And guess what? She now is a convert after having planted one. Knock Out roses, she says, did deliver on being immensely survivable and also pretty. They even have fragrances.
It’s also an apt name for a flower. What do you say when you see a beautiful woman? “She’s a knockout.” Whether small or tall, wide or narrow, flowers that bloom with confidence, style and reliability are always welcome in any garden or home terrace.
I just love flowers that bloom from spring to frost, don’t you? And roses, our national flower, are adored by all gardeners and flower enthusiasts not only in the United States but throughout the world.
Jill Brooke is a former CNN correspondent, Post columnist and editor-in-chief of Avenue and Travel Savvy magazine. She is an author and the editorial director of FPD and floral editor for aspire design and home magazine