skip to main content

are 'Knock out' truly drought tolerant?

14 years ago

I noticed that Amazon.com claims that "Knock Out" roses are drought tolerant and I wonder if any one has documentation that supports this claim. I've been making a list of roses that are said to be drought tolerant by reliable rosarians. so far most of the roses on my list are species and species hybrids, R. gigantea and its hybrids, a few Old Garden Tea roses, R. bracteata.

Thank you kindly,

Luxrosa

my definition of drought tolerant= blooming normally when rain has not fallen and the rose has not been watered within a 30 day consecutive period, in summer, when temperatures average from the 60's and 70's to mid 80's F.

L.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (2)

windeaux
14 years ago
When new neighbors up the street moved into their new house a couple of years ago, a landscape designer installed a huge number of pink Knockouts.

I estimate that our average temps are higher than yours by about 10 degrees. My neighbors' roses have been almost bloomless and virtually defoliated since early June. These new neighbors watered frequently during the first year, but don't seem to be watering at all this year. All their other plantings seem to be okay, but the pink Knockouts are really deplorable.

OTOH, mass plantings of the original Knockouts at a local strip mall are doing fine -- in fact, thriving. If those roses are watered at all, the watering schedule must be really early or really late. . . . At any rate, I've never seen them being watered (or otherwise tended to).
scardan123
14 years ago
I have roses that are all thought to be drought tolerant, I never ever water them, and although I live in a rainy area (1450mm/year) it is not always or automatically rainy... They seem they don't care for the drought periods that might happen in summer.
They are mostly china roses and rugosas, plus one gallica. Also the hybrid musks are not bad, although they suffer more than rugosas.

I have very recently planted some KO e DKO (november 2008), and I never watered them. None of them has died, actually they grow quickly. To early to tell, but not to early to have some reasonable hope.
Related Discussions
need recommendation for shade/drought tolerant lawn
Q
Comments (11)
St Augustine is great for shade and should grow anywhere in SoCal. The house below has St Augustine, faces north, and has five live oak trees in the front. The yard down hill to the west has a big tree and the yard to the east has five live oaks. The only opening to the sky is the driveway to the left. If you have more shade than that, St Aug will survive but be a thin grass that allows some broadleaf weeds like henbit and dichondra in. Have you considered using dwarf monkey grass for the really shady areas? It does very well and looks like grass (but it isn't). It never needs mowing and takes darned little moisture. It spreads very slowly but consistently. Here is a picture to show roughly what it looks like invading St Aug. It is the dark green patch. 15 years ago it was about 1 square foot. Now it is more like 10 square feet. Slow spreader.
...See More
Shrub suggestions needed: Drought tolerant
Q
Comments (5)
KnockOut roses are a thought - colors are single red, blush (pink), rainbow (pinkish with a yellow eye), double red (with a slightly lighter eye), and a double pink should be out later this spring. They get to 2-3' with the same or a bit more width. I know you said not rugosas, but..., these are more shrub roses. If they don't appeal, there are other "ground cover" roses and small shrub roses that might work. If caryopteris is hardy for you, any of the various cultivars would be attractive - summer flowers in blue. One of the smaller, color variants of juniper might also be a thought. Hinoki falsecypres is hardy to z5, as are the japanes cedars. Junipers also have variations in shape that might work. They ARE slow growing, but one of the lower-growing (not the upright ones) yews might also work. What about one of the hardy azaleas - they may continue to need supplemental watering? The hardier spireas, and also, New Jersey tea, one of the lower-growing blueberries, or possibly clethra (it does like wet, but can survive in dry), are other possibilties.
...See More
Don Juan or Knock Out?
Q
Comments (9)
Don Juan. Beautiful strong rose, fragrant and healthy. Mine might or might not be on fortuniana, but grows in well amended soil. KO is OK. I have some that do great and some that do not. A good rose, and I agree with Amber, a thrip magnet. Don Juan is just better :) Amend the soil as much as you can. I ended up removing a whole lot of soil and replacing it with compost. Worth it, in a long run. And you have a lot of roses to choose from for Florida. My Don Juan is doing great. Belinda's Dream is fantastic. Mutabilis -- big girl! Old Blush - very happy rose Souvenir de la Malmaison - so pretty Louis Philippe - a magnificent rose David Austin English Rose 'Christopher Marlowe' - honestly, a healthy rose! David Austin Rose "Pat Austin" -- love this rose (and I do not care for apricots and oranges usually) And I recently bought these from Chamblees - did my homework and happy with them: Peggy Martin Mrs. B.R. Cant L D Braithwaite Maggie Burgundy Iceberg (Icebergs do well for me and I already have one Burgundy) Monsieur Tillier So, lots to choose from!
...See More
Shrubs for Fence, Sun and Drought tolerant
Q
Comments (5)
Dwarf yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria) is readily available, fairly inexpensive in 1 gal size, takes full Texas sun, reasonably drought/pest tolerant, tops out around 3 ft, and would remain a pretty dense windbreak year round. The main downside is lack of seasonal variation. It will be rock solid reliable, but could become a rather boring border in the quantity you're needing. It will also take 4+ years to approach 3 ft from a 1 gal start. If not in a rush, you might experiment with autumn sage (salvia greggii). Though not as dense as the yaupon, it should be nearly evergreen in your zone. Height falls in the 2-4 ft range depending upon the cultivar. It grows quickly and is fairly easy to propagate from cuttings, so you could get all the plants you need within a season or two from a single parent. Red flowering is probably most common, but many others are available. Size and shape do seem to vary a bit by cultivar/color, so may need to experiment if you want to mix them up and get the look you are after. Weaknesses are low tolerance for wet feet and brittle branches. Brittleness is offset by rapid growth, but could be a problem if there are pets that like to check out the fence.
...See More

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES 10 Plants for Colorful Fall Blooms in the Drought-Tolerant Garden

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Want fall color but not a big water bill? Consider these not-too-thirsty fall bloomers

GARDENING GUIDES 10 Drought-Tolerant Shrubs That Thrive in Full Sun and Reflected Heat

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Got a hot spot in your garden where plants often die? Try these tough shrubs that add beauty while shrugging off the heat

TREES Great Design Plant: Cercis Occidentalis for Four Seasons

By Debbie Ballentine

Plant western redbud in drought-tolerant and habitat gardens for its outstanding beauty throughout the year

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Amorpha Canescens

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Underused lead plant loves heat, laughs at drought and is truly gorgeous

INSPIRING GARDENS Inside Houzz: A Waterfront Property Ditches the Grass for a Garden

By Annie Thornton

New drought-tolerant plantings and outdoor gathering spaces help this California backyard take in the view without wasting space or water

GARDENING GUIDES Great Native Plant: Baptisia

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Bring beneficial bee pollinators with this drought-tolerant perennial that looks like a shrub and acts like a flower

FLOWERS AND PLANTS Myoporum Parvifolium a Lush Green Alternative to the Lawn

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Plant this Australian native in mild-winter climates as a low-maintenance, semi-drought-tolerant ground cover

GARDENING GUIDES Decorate the Landscape With Versatile Agave

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Beautiful, succulent leaves reach toward the sky, adding texture and beauty to the drought-tolerant landscape

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Ceanothus Pleases With Nectar and Fragrant Blooms

West Coast natives: The blue flowers of drought-tolerant ceanothus draw the eye and help support local wildlife too

PLANTING IDEAS 7 Stunning Plant Combinations for Low-Water Gardens

By Dig Your Garden Landscape Design

Find inspiration in these beautiful drought-tolerant companion plantings

Sponsored

More Discussions

Anyone get their plants from Grace Rose Farm yet?

256

Anyone Growing Bring Me Sunshine?

23

Florentina a very nice red rose

39

Rose midge solutions?

15

First report of prunus necrotic ringspot virus in rose in Lebanon.

2