10 Colors Of Knock Out Roses to Liven Up Your Yard

If you want to try growing roses but are intimidated by their complex care and needs, Knock Out roses are the perfect solution. These shrub roses bloom multiple times per season, require minimal care, and boast spectacularly colorful blooms. They were originally introduced in 2000 and have continued to be cultivated ever since.

What makes Knock Out roses so popular? Other than their fantastic visual appeal, these roses are also some of the easiest to care for. Most roses require careful pruning and deadheading each year. Deadheading is the process of removing the wilting roses to prevent the introduction of disease to the rest of the plant. It also ensures that the nutrients the plant gets from the soil, water, and sun go to create new, healthy blooms. Knock Out roses don’t require this. They are self-cleaning and all you have to do is sit back and enjoy the flowers.

These shrubs also work in a variety of climates and bloom from the early spring all the way through to the first frost. They go dormant in the winter months but quickly return to their full glory when the temperatures start to rise. With so little maintenance, it’s easy to see why these roses are popular among gardeners as well as professional landscapers.

There are a lot of color varieties and the grower behind Knock Out roses is constantly cultivating new varieties. Here are some of the best ones to try.

#1 ‘Radrazz’ Knock Out Rose

This is the original color and variety of Knock Out rose and is still one of the most popular. The blooms are bright reddish-pink, which really makes a statement whether you want to have them as a focal point in a garden or use the shrubs as edging to a larger landscape. This variety put Knock Out roses on the map and were some of the most popular for many years.

They won multiple awards, including the 2000 All-American Rose selection, the 2002 ADR Award in Germany, the 2003 Gold Medal Award from the International Rose Test Garden, and the 2004 Member’s Choice Award from the American Rose Society. William Radler, the grower who developed the rose, also won the 2003 David Fuerstenburg Prize from the American Rose Society. In 2018, this variety was inducted into the World Federation of Rose Societies Hall of Fame.

#2 ‘Radyod’ Blushing Rose

This delicate blossom looks great as a focal point or in a larger grouping. The flowers are light pink and fade slightly in color to a pale pink as they mature. The overall impact is quite striking, especially when planted in a grouping. Compared to other rose varieties, Knock Out roses are much easier to care for and they have plenty of pink options. The leaves have a blueish tint that really pops against the pink. It won the 2019 Master Rose award at the American Rose Trials for Sustainability.

#3 ‘Radgor’ Peachy Knock Out

Another pink option, the Peachy Knock Out rose is a peachier pink due to the yellow tint in the center of the flower at the base of each petal. They bloom from spring all the way through fall. Like other Knock Out roses, they will bloom multiple times each year. The early blooms in the spring and the late blooms in the fall tend to be a slightly more intense color than the ones in the middle of the growing season. The foliage is much darker and semi-glossy.

This rose was the 2018 recipient of the Master Rose award at the American Rose Trials for Sustainability, which was won by the Blushing Rose the following year. The Peachy Knock Out also won the Master Rose 2018 distinction at the American Garden Rose Selections.

#4 ‘Radral’ Coral Knock Out

These flowers are a rich coral color. In areas that are particularly hot and humid, the color is even more vibrant. The foliage starts out as dark bronze, adding a splash of color to your landscape even very early in the spring. As they mature, the leaves turn green with a matte finish. This rose also has a slight fragrance, making it a good addition for spaces where you want to enjoy all of your senses in the garden.

The Coral Knock Out won the 2021 Master Rose Award at the American Rose Trials for Sustainability and the American Garden Rose Selections 2018 Regional Award.

#5 ‘SRPylwko‘ Easy Bee-zy Knock Out

This yellow rose is a fantastic addition to your garden but you’ll have to wait a bit longer to see it available in garden centers. It had a limited release on QVC in spring 2023 and is expected to be widely available in 2024. The blossoms are yellow and very fragrant. The description calls the scent light and citrusy. This makes them a nice rose for the senses as well as attractive to bees and other pollinators.

#6 ‘Radsunny’ Sunny Knock Out

A slightly paler yellow, the Sunny Knock Out has a strong citrusy scent. It is one of the most fragrant options from Knock Out and was developed by the original Knock Out gardener himself, Will Radner. The petals are bright yellow but fade as the bloom matures. Those that bloom during the cooler times of the year tend to keep their intense coloring a bit longer.

#7 ‘Radtko’ Double Knock Out

These look similar to the original Knock Out rose in color but have fuller, double blooms. They have all of the same low-maintenance features, including resistance to black spots, no need for deadheading, and multiple blooms per year. They tend to do a bit better in cold weather but are happy from early spring to the first frost. Like the original, the Double Knock Out has received recognition as a great bloom. The variety won an Australian Gold Medal in 2004 and was honored as a Master Rose in the 2019 American Rose Trials for Sustainability. The smell is described as sweet and fruity.

#8 ‘Radslam‘ Orange Glow Knock Out

These blooms are much tighter than other Knock Out varieties and the bright orange color really makes a statement in the garden. The petals are predominantly orange with hints of cream and pink. This is another new bloom that will be widely available in 2024. There was a limited release on QVC in spring 2023.

#9 ‘Meibenbino‘ Petite Knock Out

This is the first and only miniature version of the popular Knock Out rose. They are bold red, similar to the original Knock Out. The blooms don’t fade in color as they mature and they will bloom multiple times within the year. They are just a fraction of the size of all other Knock Out rose bushes, standing just 18 inches tall when fully grown. The flowers themselves are also smaller, often just 1 or 2 inches in diameter. They are still small bushes and make a charming addition when kept in a pot or small container.

#10 ‘Radwhite’ White Knock Out

This is the only white variety of Knock Out roses, although some others fade to a very pale pink or yellow as they mature. This bloom has pure white petals set against dark green foliage. This contrast makes it a very visually appealing flower for your garden or landscaping. It also has a light floral scent that many people enjoy.

The White Knock Out has won multiple awards throughout the years. These include the 2011 Gold Medal award from the Rose Hills Company International Rose Trials, recognition as a Blue Ribbon Winner for outstanding, low water performance from the 2017-2019 WUCOLS trials, and distinction as the Master Rose 2021 from the American Rose Trials for Sustainability.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Molly Shannon/Shutterstock.com