New Petite Knock Out Rose Pumps Out Nonstop Red Blooms on Compact, Easy-Care Plants
Knock Out roses have been a smash hit since they came onto the gardening scene 20 years ago, and for good reason. These beauties don't need dead-heading like other roses do, they're very disease-resistant, and are covered in hot pink blooms from spring to frost. However, these plants can take up a lot of space, reaching about 4 feet tall and wide. Now, there's a more compact version: the Petite Knock Out. It's every bit as easy-care and gorgeous as its larger kin, but you can fit this miniature rose in almost anywhere to enjoy its vibrant red blooms. It's the perfect size for Mother's Day gifting, a token of teacher appreciation, or just treating yourself.
Courtesy of Star Roses and Plants
Buy It: Petite Knock Out Rose ($43, The Home Depot)
"Game-changing" is how Star Roses and Plants Rose program manager, Layci Gragnani, describes Petite Knock Out. Compared to other roses, "two things that make this variety very unique are the versatility and the size," she says. It only gets 18 inches high and wide, so it's an excellent choice for small yards or balcony gardens, and Gragnani says you can use it in so many ways. "It could be in the landscape, it could be in containers, or we also have a tree form." The formal-looking tree form (known as a standard) makes an especially striking focal point.
Wherever you choose to grow Petite Knock Out, "this variety continuously blooms from spring until frost and gives you bold flower color on top of dark glossy green foliage," Gragnani says. The blooms are a little smaller than the original Knock Out, but their bright red hue helps them stand out in garden beds and planters on the patio, especially when grouping several of these plants together. Right now, this mini variety only comes in red, but more colors are in the works.
Courtesy of Star Roses and Plants
Grower trials across the country have shown that Petite Knock Out is hardy in Zones 5 through 10, withstanding any climate from the desert southwest to the Northeast. Gragnani says that you can keep the plant indoors for a couple weeks if you want to enjoy it as a table decoration, but it will do best planted outside because it requires 6-8 hours of direct sunlight to thrive.
Related: 9 of the Worst Mistakes You Should Stop Making with Your Roses
Gragnani says that ample watering is the best way to help acclimate your new rose once you've planted it. Once it has begun to produce new growth, water it once or twice a week moving forward. In terms of fertilizer, Knock Out roses usually don't need as much as other roses, but you can add an all-purpose fertilizer or rose food ($10, Lowe's) after the first wave of flowering to give your plant a boost.
Overall, Petite Knock Out is "a really nice, 21st-century type of rose that is so versatile," says Gragnani. Look for it in garden centers in 2-quart or 6-quart bright green containers, or in tree form, so you can enjoy the beautiful blooms in your yard all summer long.
