The knock-out rose has increased interest in growing roses in cold climates such as the Poconos. Lots of people who believed they "can't grow roses" can grow this one. I am grateful to breeders such as Radler who develop roses that can survive cold winters.
Unfortunately, people treat the knockout rose as a flowering shrub and "prune" it with hedge clippers. Increasing numbers of red speckled aesthetic tumors are dotting the landscape. I don't understand why people insist on turning every shrub - boxwood, azalea, forsythia, knockout rose - into a nondescript blob.
I agree with Zuzu that the individual blooms aren't exceptional, but the shrub can survive zone 6 winters without winter protection. It is a good "starter rose" for novice gardeners. There are other more attractive hardy roses, but they don't have the marketing advantage of catchy names and colorful plastic pots.
I have seen an increase in rose care products in the local stores. They finally stock RoseTone! I hope they also start stocking a wider variety of roses.
