Question
Hi Lynnette,

I bought three knock out roses about a month ago and planted them next to several other rose bushes.  The knock out roses were blooming when I planted them, but about two weeks ago when the blooms fell off, I noticed the leaves on all three roses were turning purple.  I wondered if this is new leaf growth?  Also, there have not been any new blooms on the bushes since I planted them.  We have had an unusual amount of rain (Dallas, Texas) since I planted them, but the other existing rose bushes seem to be doing fine.  Can you tell me about the purple leaves and when will they bloom again (I hope I didn't kill them!).  Thank you!

Amy

Answer
First of all when you replant a rose it can sulk. It sulks because the feeder roots have been disturbed and need time to adjust to the new surroundings and that is why the flowers dropped off. So that is normal. If the purple is on new growth then that too is normal as new growth is often a completely different colour than the mature leaves. But if the older leaves are turning purple then that would be a problem, usually a deficiency in the soil. However if your other roses are doing okay, then that isn't the reason they are purple. As you said the amount of rain would not cause anything to happen to a rose and roses really are hard to kill. It should take about 3 weeks for you to see another flush of blooms but in that time I would watch the leaves and see if they turn to a natural green like the other ones. Knock Out is a shrub rose and will take more than the average abuse. I would take a wait and see attitude because the lack of sunshine may just be the cause. Many of these roses are forced into flower before you get them and then they revert to their normal cycle. Hope this helps.