Saturday, January 22, 2011

Proven Winners Home Run Rose

We gathered for lunch looking out on Lake Michigan to hear hybridizer Tom Carruth tell us the history of two new rose introductions Home Run Red and Home Run Pink.  Our group was a mix of landscape designers, garden writers of blogs, books and newspapers and representatives of the plant growing and marketing industry.

This rose has been marketed in limited supply by Weeks Roses (who does not sell to the public) and now will be marketed on a large scale to the general public by Proven Winners Color Choice.

Home Run Red

Home Run Red is a cross of City of San Francisco and Baby Love, with their offspring then being crossed with the original Knockout Rose.  The result is the best of all worlds,  The new Home Run Red is a brighter truer red, resists powdery mildew (which the original Knockout did not) and black spot, shrub-like growth habit, quick repeat flowers, first rose to bloom in spring and fragrant buds.


City of San Francisco

Baby Love

The foliage is a deeper glossy green, more compact and hardier than the original Knockout.  The growth is spiky at first and with continued growth becomes shrub-like.  I was surprised that Home Run can set hips but does not stop flowering.


Original Knockout

The one thing that all rose people will have to remember with this plant, no deadheading recommended!  The new buds form right where the spent flower falls off so any deadheading will cut down on the continual flower display.

Home Run Red should be plentiful this year but the pink (a sport of Home Run Red) is still only offered in small pots through online nurseries.  If the pink one (which would be my choice) is your desire try these nurseries http://www.shrubsource.com/, http://www.greatgardenplants.com/ and http://www.gardencrossings.com/

These are the websites that were given to me that would possibly be marketing small containers of Home Run Pink.  In checking them at this time only Great Garden Plants is carrying Home Run Red.  I guess we can check back later to see if they are added to their websites.

Home Run Pink

Check out Mr. Brown Thumb's Blog for another look at Tom Carruth the hybridizer of Home Run. http://mrbrownthumb.blogspot.com/


31 comments:

Darla said...

Sounds as if these are the 'perfect' roses for any garden. Just gorgeous...I'll be keeping my eyes open for them for sure.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Darla, I am anxious to try it also. The original Knockout did not do very well in my zone 5, lots of dieback and some never came back. The doubles did better, but I did not like their shape.

Eileen

Lona said...

It sounds like a very good rose to have in the garden. I like knockouts so this should be a wonderful addition. The pink is so pretty. I am wondering if I would forget and deadhead it though.I am so use to snipping them off. LOL!

scottweberpdx said...

Nice! I've never been a fan of roses (particularly doubles) but that single pink ones is just beautiful...maybe it will be my "'gasp" first rose!

allanbecker-gardenguru said...

Thanks for bringing this new variety of rose to our attention. Sounds like a "winner"!

meemsnyc said...

Those sure are pretty!!

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Lona, I was just thinking of this as he mentioned no deadheading. I deadhead everything so I would need to put a sign on this bush!

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Scott, I like the singles also and I am going to look for that Pink Home Run.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Allan,

I hope it performs better for me than the original Knockout. Our zones will certainly put it to the test, although they say it is recommended down to zone 4.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

They sure are meemsync, I'm going to look for some in the spring.

Eileen

Fishtail Cottage said...

oh - do i love the home run pink!!! i could plant those in my garden this year & test them out for Washington State! wink wink...

Gatsbys Gardens said...

I know Fishtail, I would love to test them out also. We will be lucky if we can even find them this year. I think they are slated for widespread release in 2012.

Eileen

Jennifer@threedogsinagarden said...

Hi Eileen, I like both the pink and the red Home Run roses. It is interesting that you note that they do not benefit from deadheading. I wonder if they will be available up here in Canada? ( I have seen the older Knockouts here)

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Jennifer,

I would think they would be available in Canada because the distribution is going to be so widespread. If not, they will be online. I think the pink one is going to be hard to find this year.

Eileen

Diana LaMarre said...

resists mildew, repeat blooms and bright red and no deadheading--it sounds like a winner to me!

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Zoey, we'll wait and see if it survies one of our summers, Knockout did not do too well this year.

Eileen

gardeningnaturallywithclaudia.blogspot.com said...

I am anxious to try these little guys. Nice article.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Claudia, I am anxious to try this one also and see if it is hardier than the original Knockout.

Eileen

Karen said...

What a wonderful rose, I can't wait to make these an addition to the gardens! I certainly can use the flower power.

Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said...

I will be looking for Home run Pink. The one thing that has stopped me from buying Knockout roses is their lack of fragrance. Thanks for the info!

Tootsie said...

those are wonderful! such pretty colors!!!
I love to read Mr. Brownthumbs...he's always a good read!

Anonymous said...

Eileen: I must get this Home Run Pink one into my garden asap (well kinda') for that Garden Walk.

Thanks for sharing.......loved it.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Karen,

We can experiment with it this summer.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Catherine,

This one supposedly has the fragrance right by the bud.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Tootsie, yes Mr. Brown Thumb has a few different blogs, always good information.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Mary Anne,

These would be a great conversation piece for a Garden Walk, especially the pink one.

Eileen

Diana LaMarre said...

I may have to try petunias again this year is I see Petunia Phantom
available in my town -- love it!

MrBrownThumb said...

I'm still so inspired by this man. I may end up growing roses because of him.

Vetsy said...

Hello Eileen..I found your blog by way of Catherine of A gardener in Progress, she suggested I come by and take a look after i posted a wish list of roses on my blog.

Thanks for posting info about the new Knockout roses, I will certainly make a note of it.

Vetsy of Vetsy's View

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi MBT,

He was very impressive. I grow a lot of Knockouts, some great, some not so great. I am going to put in a couple of the Home Runs, hopefully I can find the pink one!

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Vetsy,

Thanks for visiting. It sounds too good to be true, but we will see. I plan on putting a couple in this spring, if I can find them.

Eileen