The Rose Variety That Changed the Home Gardening Game Turns 25

To many home gardeners, roses can seem intimidating. After all, some of the most beautiful and prized varieties are often housed in dedicated rose gardens or on the grounds of botanical gardens where professionals do all the caretaking. But horticulturalists heard those grumblings about finicky rose bushes and decided to do something about it. Thus, the low-maintenance Knock Out Rose was introduced to the public in 2000 and is celebrating its 25th birthday this year.

While still offering the beauty, aroma, and pops of colorful blooms that roses are known for, Knock Out Rose bushes do so with easy maintenance and a disease-resistant plant that thrives in a variety of zones, making it ideal for gardeners who may not have the greenest of thumbs. As the Knock Out Rose’s breeder Will Radler once explained, this rose “doesn’t know it’s a rose.”

In its first year on the market, the Knock Out Rose sold over 250,000 plants, becoming one of the fastest-selling new roses ever. In the past 25 years, that number has ballooned to a total in the hundreds of millions. The original Knock Out Rose came in a vibrant red-pink color. But these days, Knock Out Roses and Double Knock Out Roses are available in a dozen styles, sizes, and colors, — including red, pink, orange, white, and yellow — with quirky names from Easy Bee-zy to Fruity Petals.

As part of the 25th anniversary festivities, Friday, May 9, 2025 has officially been named Knock Out Rose Day after winning approval from the National Day Calendar last year. (The day of recognition will recur annually on the Friday before Mother’s Day.) Knock Out Rose producer Star Roses and Plants invites current and new Knock Out Rose growers to share photos of their roses on social media tagged #NationalKnockOutRoseDay and to watch their channels for gardening inspiration and giveaways.