The Sunny Knock Out® Rose
Botanical name: Rosa 'Radsunny'
The outstanding qualities that made the original Knock Out rose America's most popular long bloom time; dark, glossy foliage; disease resistance have led to the breeding of several new colors in the line. Of all the recent introductions Double Red, Pink, Double Pink, Blushing and Rainbow the newest rose in this class shows the best qualities of the original with nice additional features.
Why you want it: This rose requires little care and resists insects, black spot and powdery mildew, the common problems that demand constant spraying. The buttery yellow flowers form on upright stems and have a delightful fragrance, making them ideal as cut flowers.
Flowers: The 3-inch blooms open a bright lemon yellow then fade to pale creamy yellow. A single row of petals surrounds the frilly center. This is the first Knock Out rose with a scent, and it is wonderfully fragrant. Blooming continues for months, with the best flower color in spring and fall.
Foliage: Dark, shiny leaves stay attractive all year, rarely getting diseases that discolor most rose bushes. Strong, straight stems grow into a nice large, mounding shrub.
Height and width: 4 feet tall and wide
Sun requirements: Full to part sun. Late-afternoon shade in the summer will keep the flowers from fading to white.
Watering: These are drought-tolerant plants once established, but weekly watering in the summer will keep the shrubs blooming longer.
Additional care: Because they resist fungal diseases and insects, they need little care. Cut off old flowers to keep them constantly blooming, and prune them up to halfway back in mid-February if needed to retain their shape.