Shrub rose 'Knock Out' vs English rose
Knock Out roses were bred for disease resistance and nonstop flowering, and for a low-care rose they are hard to beat, but they have little scent. English roses, bred by David Austin, have the full, many-petalled form and strong scent of the old roses, and need more care: feeding, deadheading and, in humid summers, a watch for black spot.
| Shrub rose 'Knock Out' Rosa 'Knock Out' | English rose Rosa (English shrub roses) | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 4 ft tall, 4 ft wide | 4 ft tall, 4 ft wide |
| Plant | 3½ ft apart | 3½ ft apart |
| Zones | 5 to 9 | 5 to 9 |
| Light | Full sun | Full sun |
| Soil | Well-drained, average fertility | Well-drained, rich fertility |
| Flowers | Late May to mid October; red, pink | Early June to early October; pink, white, yellow, red, orange |
| Leaves | Medium, deciduous | Medium, deciduous |
| Job in a bed | Anchor | Anchor |
| Pets | No toxicity recorded | No toxicity recorded |
| Deer | No record | No record |
| Native | No | No |
| Spread | Low risk | Low risk |
Rows where they differ are marked. Flowering times are for zone 5.
Which to choose
- Choose shrub rose 'Knock Out' for a longer show (21 weeks of flower against 18).
Can they grow together?
Yes: they grow in the same conditions. Beside shrub rose 'Knock Out', English rose is in flower together for 18 weeks, from early June. They share full sun and zones 5 to 9.
Read more: all about shrub rose 'Knock Out', and all about English rose, each with a bed the planner designed around it.