History of knockout roses
The Knockout rose is a great variety of rose which has been created after selective breeding spread over a long span of time. Due to the number of selections and tests performed on various types of roses in order to create the Knock out rose, this particular variety of rose has emerged as a hardy and disease-resistant type. Needless to say, this type of rose is also extremely beautiful.
The knockout rose was created by a great rose enthusiast, William Radler. Even as a child, William was fascinated with this type of flower. His passion was so great for roses that when William received his first allowance at the young age of 9, he used the money to purchase roses.
As years went by, William’s obsession with roses grew.
He started collecting various varieties of roses, some being extremely rare. He is said to have over a hundred rose plants in his possession. He also started reading up on how to take care of roses properly, when to plant them, and how best to fertilize them. In other words, he started gaining a comprehensive knowledge of rose husbandry. William Radler was also awarded on a number of occasions for the continuous hard work he contributed regarding the rose family.
The plantation and upkeep of roses, was a costly affair. Since William Radler could not afford the mounting expense of continually buying rose plants, he perfected the habit of bud grafting and cutting rose stems. These methods proved extremely successful in expanding his rose collection.
The maintenance of his rose plants became a tedious process. William had to continually guard his rose plants from pests and diseases by spraying insecticides. He also made special arrangements for his rose plants regarding the winter season. During the rigorous and demanding maintenance of his beloved rose plants, William contemplated creating a new variety of rose, simple to evolve and maintain. William’s concentration was consumed perusing this elusive variety of rose.
William wished to create a variety of rose which could be grown in different climates. He intended the new variety of rose to be disease-resistant. His emphasis being on the disease-free aspect of the rose plant which he wished to create, minimizing the use of pesticides.
His new rose had to posses other qualities.
An experimental period of fifteen years culminated in developing the Knock Out Rose. Immediately after its creation, a sample of the new variety was dispatched to the Conard-Pyle Company, exhaustive tests on the flower were performed.
These proved successful, allowing the roses to be produced commercially. It became one of the best-selling varieties of rose. In the year 2000, the knockout rose created by William Radler gained the prestigious All American Rose Selection Award. Meanwhile, William Radler continues to work with roses and improve on their varieties.