The Double Knock Out® Rose, Rosa hybrida ‘Radtko’, PP16202 was breed by William Radler of Milwaukee Wisconsin, and introduced by The Conard-Pyle Co. It is considered a hybrid Landscape Shrub Rose. It was selected for a wide range of hardiness (USDA 4-10) and disease resistance. Typical of the Knockout roses the bud is an attractice pointed ovoid. Flowering is failry consistently season long. The double bloom is described as a deep cerise, cherry red but seems "neon" red to most. The blooms are many in number and can be more than 3 inches across and average about 20 petals. The pleasant fragrance is not exactly rosy. It is resistant to rose black spot; in regards to disease there is a pretty good explanation of the Knockout disease resistance and proper siting for minimal mildew problems at http://www.knockoutrosesonline.com/knockout-roses/how-to-protect-knock-out-roses-from-disease . Botrytis blight an occasional problem caused by the fungus Botrytis cinerea, thrives in high humidity. The image, below left, shows the crooked neck symptom late in the development of the disease. Early symptoms include spotted petals and buds that fail to open or to open completely. Remove and dispose of fallen leaves and petals and prune out infested canes, buds, and flowers.

At the UKREC we cut the Knockouts and Meidland's back to about a 24' inch ball in the winter before they start to grow. Conard-Pyle's website as well as several others state that deadheading blooms is not necessary