Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
Looking for a rose with unique coloring but with a fraction of the care requirements of traditional roses? You have found a candidate: the Rainbow Knock Out Rose. This rose boasts massive amounts of single flowers in coral, pink, and cream shades that bloom across a long season. A former All-America Rose Selection, the Rainbow Knock Out offers excellent disease resistance and attractive foliage.
A low maintenance requirement is the most outstanding feature of the Knock Out family of roses. This shrub lacks the strong fragrance of other roses and its blooms have a fairly short vase-life, but it can be treated as an easy flowering shrub. It has resistance to powdery mildew and black spot and is self-cleaning and drought tolerant, making it a great plant for a range of climates and sites. It is hardy and heat/humidity tolerant from USDA zones 5 to 8.
Rainbow Knock Out Rose Care
Rainbow Knock Out roses require ample light, with at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight daily. These shrubs prefer a well-drained soil with a pH between 6.0 and 6.5. After planting, water the roses whenever rainfall is insufficient to encourage establishment. A 3-inch layer of mulch around the plant helps to retain soil moisture and suppress competitive weeds.
Do any pruning to maintain a smaller size or adjust the shape while the shrub is dormant in late winter or early spring. This timing will ensure that flowering is not affected. It is possible to grow Rainbow Knock Out roses in a container. A container must have a volume of at least 10 or 15 gallons, have ample drainage, and be heavy enough that no issues will arise when the shrub grows and becomes more top-heavy. Specimens in containers will require more frequent watering than their counterparts grown in the ground, especially during hot, dry weather.
Rainbow Knock Out Rose Spacing
Adequate spacing is necessary to ensure that Rainbow Knock Out will maintain the best shape with minimal pruning. These shrubs grow at least 2 to 3 feet high and 3 to 4 feet wide, so space plants accordingly. Good air flow around the plants will also bring out the best performance from this rose.
Rainbow Knock Out® Rose Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 5 to 8 (perennial); grown as an annual elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown indoors elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown in containers elsewhere (grown as a seasonal crop)
- Sun Exposure
- Full Sun (6+ Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 2-3 Feet
- Mature Spread
- 3-4 Feet
- Growth Habit
- , Upright
- Water Needs
- Average
- Root Stock
- Own Root
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , Pink, White, Yellow, Multi Colored
- Flower Description
- Pink, White, Yellow
- Bloom Time
- Late Spring to Fall
- Blooms On
-
New Wood
?
"Blooms on" tells you which stems produce flowers, which decides when it's safe to prune.
- New Wood: Flowers form on stems that grow this season. Prune in late winter or early spring without losing blooms.
- Old Wood: Flower buds form on last year's stems. Prune right after flowering. Pruning in fall or early spring removes next year's blooms.
- Both New and Old Wood: Blooms on last year's stems and again on new growth, so it flowers even after a hard winter or a mistimed pruning. Prune lightly after the first flush of blooms.
- When to Prune
- Late winter to early spring, before new growth starts
- Foliage Color
- , Green
- Foliage Description
- Green
- Foliage Type
- , Deciduous
- Seasonal Interest
- , Spring Flowering, Summer Flowering, Fall Flowering
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Rainbow Knock Out® Rose
- Botanical Name
- ROSA 'RAINBOW KNOCK OUT'
- Brand
- Knock Out Roses
- Plant Type
- Shrub
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
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We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Starting January 1, 2026 all bushes, perennials & trees purchased come with an extended 1-year warranty for added confidence. If your plant dies due to a health issue within a year, we’ll make it right.
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!