The All-America Rose Selections judges have selected a number of rose varieties that do particularly well in the Midwest and the mountain states. The plants must be able to withstand late frosts. The recommended varieties include Carefree Delight and The Fairy. In addition, the group named several outstanding varieties for the mountain states, including Knock-Out.


Carefree Delight Rose-Regional Winner for the Midwest

This was named an All-American Rose Selections winner. Released in 1996, this was introduced by Meilland. This shrub rose is medium in height with a spreading growth habit. This variety is very disease resistant and hardy.

The single blooms have five petals or so. The pink petals surround a vivid white eye. Lending a light scent, these are part of the Carefree series of roses, several of which have also been named an All-America Rose Selections winners. Carefree Delight’s lineage includes Smarty, Nirvana, and Eyepaint.


Knock-Out-Regional Winner for the Mountain States

This outstanding variety was named a regional winner in several areas of the country, including the mountain states. Knock-Out is suited to zones four through 11. the carefree, tough, sturdy plants were originally introduced in 1999-2000 by Bill Radler. Its parentage included a Razzle Dazzle seedling and a Carefree Beauty seedling. Radler created the Knock Out family series, which now includes many other new varieties. The plants reach three to four feet in height with a spread of about four feet. The rounded to bushy plants are disease resistant so the leaves remain free of black spot. .

Considered a red blend, these are free flowering, and bloom all season. The semi-double flowers are up to four inches wide. These are lightly scented. The color varies slightly, and can be deep pink to vivid red, and even purplish as well. The centers are yellow. They have less than ten petals. The red color can become deeper when the weather is cold.

Knock-Out was named an All-America Rose Selections in 2000. Other awards include being named the Anerkannte Deutsche Rose in Germany in 2002. It was named a Portland Gold Medal winner in Portland, Oregon in 2003. It was also named the Monza Gold Medal winner in 2003. In 2004, it was the American Rose Society Members’ Choice.

Jackson and Perkins sells this as a patio tree rose, and Witherspoon offers it as a tree rose.

There are now pink versions of Knock-Out that are sports of the original Knock-Out. Radler is an amateur rose breeder and rosarian. He also received a 2007 All-America Rose Selections winner for the Rainbow Knock-Out, which was a seedling.