Roses are one of the most popular flowers grown in home gardens. With their beautiful blooms and fragrant scent, it’s no wonder they are a top choice for many gardeners. Knockout roses, in particular, have become very popular in recent years due to their low maintenance requirements and disease resistance. But gardeners often wonder – is there a double yellow knockout rose variety? Let’s take a look at what knockout roses are, their color options, and whether a double yellow exists.
What are Knockout Roses?
Knockout roses were first introduced in 2000 by rose breeder William Radler. They are a shrub rose known for being extremely low maintenance, bloom continuously through the season, and are highly disease resistant. The original Knockout rose was a single-petaled red variety, but over the years more colors have been introduced including pink, coral, white, and yellow.
What makes Knockout roses so carefree is their resistance to common rose diseases like black spot, powdery mildew, and rust. Their foliage is glossy green and resistant to insect pests as well. Deadheading is not required to encourage blooming. While they only bloom once per season, they bloom abundantly with each flush of blossoms. Their blooms are also self-cleaning, meaning the spent petals drop from the plant cleanly. This makes them quite low maintenance compared to other roses.
Knockout Rose Color Options
Let’s take a look at the different Knockout rose color options currently available:
| Knockout Variety | Color |
|---|---|
| Original Knockout | Cherry red |
| Pink Knockout | Shell pink |
| Blushing Knockout | Light pink |
| Rainbow Knockout | Coral & yellow swirled |
| Coral Knockout | Salmon coral |
| Sunny Knockout | Butter yellow |
| White Knockout | Pure white |
| Double Knockout | Cherry red, double blooms |
As you can see, there is quite an array of flower colors now available in the Knockout family of roses. The original red has been joined by pinks, corals, yellows, and whites. But what about a double yellow?
Is There a Double Yellow Knockout Rose?
Currently, there is no double yellow Knockout rose variety available. The only double-bloom Knockout that exists is the Double Knockout, which has cherry red flowers.
The yellow Knockout rose is called Sunny Knockout. It has light butter yellow single-petaled blooms that appear in abundance from spring to frost. However, there is not yet a double-bloom version of Sunny Knockout.
A double yellow Knockout rose would certainly be eye-catching in any garden. The lush fullness of double blooms contrasts beautifully with the sunny yellow color. Hopefully, rose breeders may develop a double yellow Knockout variety in the future.
Other Yellow Rose Options
While Sunny Knockout is the only yellow in the Knockout family so far, there are other yellow rose varieties to consider:
| Rose Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Julia Child | Buttery gold blooms, intoxicating fragrance |
| Gold Medal | Ruffled double yellow blooms |
| Sunsprite | Bright yellow single-petaled blooms |
| Moondance | Creamy white and yellow bicolor |
| Quietness | Soft yellow semi-double blooms |
Julia Child is a highly awarded yellow rose loved for its golden blooms and strong fruit and licorice scent. Gold Medal produces showy, ruffled double yellow blooms good for cut flowers. Sunsprite offers bright yellow single blooms continuously through the season. Moondance has a color combination of cream and yellow, and Quietness has soft yellow semi-double blooms.
Caring for Yellow Roses
To get the most out of yellow roses, proper care is important. Here are some growing tips:
- Plant in full sun – Yellow roses need a minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight per day to thrive.
- Fertilize regularly – Feed every 6-8 weeks during the growing season with a balanced rose fertilizer.
- Water 1-2 inches per week – Yellow roses like consistent moisture, so water deeply and regularly.
- Prune in late winter – Remove dead, damaged and crossing canes to improve air circulation and shape.
- Watch for pests – Inspect regularly for common problems like aphids, Japanese beetles, mites.
- Prepare for winter – In cold climates, mound soil or mulch around the base to protect the graft union.
With proper site selection, nutrition, pruning, and pest management, yellow roses will flourish and brighten up the garden with their cheery blooms.
Are Double Yellow Roses in the Future?
For Knockout rose lovers hoping for a double yellow variety, the future looks promising. Since the original red Knockout was introduced in 2000, we’ve seen many exciting new flower colors and styles added to the collection. Plant breeders are continuously working on improvements.
William Radler, the original breeder of Knockouts, has said that a double yellow is on his wish list but it can take 10-15 years to develop and test new rose varieties. The breakthrough needs to come from parent plants with both the double-bloom genetics and yellow coloring. Then many years of trialing ensure the roses have the health, hardiness and performance gardeners expect.
So while we may not see it right away, there’s a good chance a double yellow Knockout could hit the plant market within the next decade. For now, Sunny Knockout or other yellow roses like Julia Child can provide bright, cheery color in the garden. And the versatile Knockout family gives plenty of other hues to work with too. Even without a double yellow yet, Knockouts remain go-to roses for low maintenance landscapes.
Quick Facts on Double Yellow Knockout Roses
- No double yellow Knockout rose exists currently
- Sunny Knockout has single yellow blooms
- Double Knockout has double red blooms
- A double yellow is on the wishlist for future development
- Other yellow rose options are available like Julia Child, Gold Medal, etc.
- Proper care ensures yellow roses thrive and bloom repeatedly
- Knockout roses are an excellent low maintenance landscape rose
Conclusion
Knockout roses have become a gardening sensation, and for good reason. Their disease resistance, low care needs, and continual flowering make them an ideal landscape plant. While there is not currently a double bloom yellow Knockout available, the breeder has hopes to develop one in the future.
For now, the bright single-petaled blooms of Sunny Knockout or the award-winning Julia Child can provide cheery yellow color. With proper planting and care, yellow roses will flourish. And Knockout roses will likely continue expanding their color palette over time. A double yellow knockout rose would certainly be a welcome addition!
