International Rose Test Garden
Categories: Local Flavor, Botanical Gardens [Edit]
Neighborhood: Southwest Portland400 SW Kingston Ave
Portland, OR 97255 (503) 823-3636
- Good for Kids: Yes
41 Reviews for International Rose Test Garden
This garden is just as it's name implies- a garden full of different varieties of roses being "tested". I wasn't extremely impressed by the roses, but maybe I'm just not the rose type of girl. I was impressed that entrance was free, and the size of the garden makes it worth a visit. I also enjoyed picking out my favorite types of roses. I probably won't be back, unless for visiting friend who wants to go tourist stylee.
What beautiful sights and scents to behold! The 4.5-acre Garden contains 557 varieties of roses (over 6800 bushes) that bloom from April to October, peaking in June. This place is a must-see-and-smell when you're in Portland.
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I don't even like roses. But my senses LOVE the rose garden! Lovely views, sweet smelling fragrances, and great people watching too!
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So I'm not the biggest fan of rose gardens, but this place is really impressive. I spent much more time here than I initially thought I would, and I was actually interested!
Still, I can't give it five stars because I probably won't come here again anytime soon--or even the next time I'm in Portland--but it's really cool.
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booyah! 2 weeks later the park delivered! I hiked the Pittock mansion route and on the way back hit up the rose garden. My feet hurt, but I was soothed by the sight and fragrance of at least 100 different roses in bloom.
was tempted to pick one...but I resisted *wink
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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06/03/2008
up, up, up, up and up...
This best describes my experience with the Rose Garden. there was an… Read more »
"I will buy you a garden where your flowers can bloom...
I will buy you that big house way up in the west hills..."
I always think of that Everclear song when I drive past those historic homes on my way to the rose garden.
This is a beautiful spot to stroll, picnic, canoodle and take in the view. My personal favorites are the Shakespeare Garden with herbs, trees and flowers mentioned in Shakespeare's plays. Not nearly as many roses, but it feels like a quiet hideaway. I also enjoy the Queen's Walk which honors past queens of the Portland Rose Festival and the Miniature Rose Garden.
What is wonderful about this place is that it is absolutely free. No admission or charge for parking, if you can find it. The shaded lot below the tennis courts is best on a hot summer day.
It is a nice stop in Washington Park on your way to other venues. A visit to the Japanese Garden or playtime at the Children's Playground (aka Elephant House) just down the road. You can also bring a picnic and enjoy it in the garden or grassy amphitheater nearby.
Everyone who lives in the area should see the garden at least once when it is in full bloom, but I also like those quiet days in the fall when the air is crisp and the view is clear. Although, after visiting both places on the same day, I think the view of Portland is better from Pittock Mansion.
Ahhh, City of Roses, my beloved home.
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I went in August so I only know that when I stepped out of the car the fragrance was amazing. And then the rows and rows of Roses .....every color and kind you could imagine. And all in perfect condition not a aphid to be had....how do they do it? I took so many pictures of Roses it was crazy, but they were unbelievable. But you really need to see it (and smell it) all in person to get the whole vibe. And so many smaller gardens to walk through ....what a beautiful place for a wedding. You must go see for yourself, pictures just don't tell the whole story! JUST GO SMELL!
The amount of ground this rose garden covers is crazy!!! It's huge!!!
Sadly, at my time of visit, the rose garden looked like the stick garden since it was still too chilly for the flowers to come out, but I am sure in summer time it's gorgeous.
And don't forget to stop in the gift shop to get your mom/grandma something.
And it's free!
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Some of my fondest memories are coming here with my first boyfriend . . . oh high school love! Part raging hormones, part romantic scenery. This is one of the most romantic parts of the city at dusk (even if you're out of your teens). Definitely check it out.
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My fiance and I visited the rose garden at a time when the flowers weren't in bloom unfortunately. But that didn't detract from the great view of downtown or the remarkable garden itself.
I can't wait to see it in action on our next trip!
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My favorite run goes through the Rose Garden. It's a great place to stop and smell the roses.. literally! You gotta see why Portland is called the rose city!
If you visit the City of Roses, you cannot avoid this place. Nor should you. The hubby and I have credentials which make it a mandatory stop. While we managed to catch it about a week before everything popped into bloom--I think we actually saw a single bloom among the bazillion plants--it really didn't matter. The park is peaceful, beautiful, and worthy of many future visits.
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Why yes, it IS a tourist destination, but that's because it's beautiful and affords one of the most famous skyline views of Portland oft-printed on postcards. So...even locals, like me, can appreciate it. Yes, the park is stunningly, breathtakingly beautiful if you love roses and they happen to be in full bloom. But..."pssst." let me tell you a secret--it is a pretty park even when the roses are sleeping. (shh, don't tell anybody) I went up there a couple of weekends ago and sat on the quiet park bench alone, as my breath misted in the cold air, and thoroughly enjoyed myself (and the views, and the solitude). Lovely!
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This place is absolutely BEAUTIFUL, and I went before the roses were really in bloom (I have lousy timing). I'll have to make a point to go during it's peak next time.
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It sure is purty here, ma'am...but late October is not the best time to come visit since most of the roses are long past bloom and making their way back to fertilizer. However, there is enough variety and sheer volume here to appreciate the scope of the carefully designed gardens of which Portland is rightfully proud.
My main challenge was minimizing the amount of mud on my already wet Land's End moccasins, as I traipsed through the grounds to find an isolated rose that may still be in full glory. I found enough beauty to channel the ghost of Ethel Merman...
"I'll be swell. I'll be great.
I can tell. Just you wait.
That lucky star I talk about is due!
Honey, everything's coming up roses for me and for me!!!"
The gardener had to explain to me that the lyric was metaphorical and that the composer wasn't talking about real roses. Speaking of which, the gift shop -- yes, there is a gift shop -- sells only artificial roses. What's that about? ....OK OK, so I didn't break into song, but I'm certain if I were to see the garden in full flower that I'd feel like humming at least a little.
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I was at bar on my first night in Portland, chatting with some random guy, and the one thing he told me I should not miss during my trip was the Rose Garden. I'm glad I followed his advice: the Rose Garden is a beauty. It's located inside Washington Park, which offers some of the best views of the city. The garden is perfectly maintained, and is a haven of peace: quiet and serene, it is just a pleasure to walk around, enjoy the view (and the flowers of course!). Not to be missed.
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When it wasn't wet I used to come here to relax and read on a Sunday. It's a gorgeous place to kill some time or have a picnic.
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Anything deserves 5 stars if it's free. Whether you lived here your whole life or are just visiting, the Internatonal Rose Test Garden is definitely something you should experience at least once. You can smell all the roses before you even see possibly the most massive collection of roses ever. There are also shows they play in the amphitheater on select nights although I've never seen one. There is a stand where you buy snacks as well and a gift shop.
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It's roses, it's madness, it's rose madness!
This is a gorgeous rose garden and it's a must see if you're headed to Washington Park. If you're on foot, then combine it with a nice stroll along NW 23rd Street and make your way up the hill to the garden. You'll pass some lovely homes and undoubtedly some very friendly Portlanders. There are many varieties of trees and shrubs along the path, and you might even see some rasberries and silk worms.
The rose garden itself has rows and rows of breathtaking roses. Yellow ones, red ones, pink ones, dark magenta ones and even mini ones...as you can see I know the technical talk when it comes to roses. Come and take a sniff or two.
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Wow, who is not to fall in love with this amazing International Rose Garden?! I thought it might be a cheesy rose garden with a few stalks of roses but boy, was I wrong, was I so wrong!
This Rose Test Garden will put many other rose gardens to shame! I've seen some other rose gardens in Europe and of course the one in SF Golden Gate Park but this rose garden is unbeatable! And I'm sure that's how it scored the name International Rose Test Garden!
Ok, here are some facts from the official website:
"Founded in 1917, Portland's International Rose Test Garden is the oldest official, continuously operated public rose test garden in the United States. In the beginning, even though World War I was raging in Europe, hybridists sent roses from around the world to Portland's garden for testing and to keep the new hybrids safe from being destroyed by the bombing in Europe.
The primary purpose of the garden is to serve as a testing ground for new rose varieties. The City of Portland Gold Medal Awards are issued annually to the best introductions. The first "Gold Medal" rose award was given in 1919, making it the oldest rose testing program of its kind in the United States. Portland is the only North American City to issue such awards. These award winning varieties are planted in the Gold Medal Garden."
Yes, roses from worldwide are represented here and so many lovely colors and hybrids as well and in all combinations! I went trigger happy with my camera, check out the photos!
As you stroll in the Rose Garden, you'll come across the Frank L Beach Memorial Fountain, Royal Rosarian Garden and Queen's Walk.
If anyone is to visit Portland and only has a limited amount of time, do make it a point to see this beautiful Rose Garden and the take a drive on the Historic Columbia River Highway to see the waterfalls! You won't regret it! I was telling my bf that couples should just host their wedding ceremonies here and save on the floral arrangement, these roses are so plentiful and all in full bloom, so magical. Ok, I'm not sure if you are allowed to host weddings here! ;P
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Why Portland's called the City of Roses! It can get crowded, but it's free to go and explore. Did I mention it's free?
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of all the places you can go and walk around for free in this city, i wouldnt make this my first choice. of course i got suckered into going here and boy was there a lot of old people. i thought that at least it would be some marvel of landscaping, but no, its just a bunch of rows of roses. there really isnt anything around to tell you about the different roses other than the name tags. there are kind of a lot of dead flowers and unpruned plants there which i wouldnt expect. at least it smells pretty good and sometimes there are free concerts there. maybe take a stroll through for some added value on a visit to the japanese gardens.
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What a great place. Free to the public, it is an absolute delight to the senses. Row after row of exceptionally beautiful flowers, the landscaping is carefully detailed, and the view can't be beat. Buy a cup of coffee and sit in the amphitheater for a moment, and soak it all in.
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I always hate being a conformist and giving a quick and easy 5 stars, especially when everyone else is as well...but this place really is quite impressive. A rose garden with hundreds of different varieties and bigger than several football fields?
Forget it: you sold me. I went and it really was quite nice indeed, even though it was pretty crowded.
Free for 5
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You'll swear someone Photoshop'd the roses before you got there. They are so bright and saturated it's unreal. I've seen my share of roses, but there are definitely some here I've never seen before. You are unlikely to see a better spread anywhere.
Parking is a bit difficult as this place is crowded and the parking lot is small. If you do like we did and zip past the little lot you'll have a fun time driving around on a winding one way road that after about 5min takes you back where you started.
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What a great place to spend the afternoon.
While on my excursion to Portland, I made note that I really wanted to see their huge rose garden. Seattle has a few gardens but not to the scale that Portland does.
Finding the garden was somewhat simple, though once we headed into the woods, I was a little concerned I went the wrong way. Nestled right next to the Japanese gardens and plenty of parking. And it does loop around, so don't be worried if you feel a little lost.
I was so grateful for handicap access. With my stroller in tow, it was much easier to use the ramp and enjoy the roses. And there are just tons of roses everywhere. All different blooms and fragrances. It's absolutely lovely. Plenty of places to sit and enjoy the scenery. I felt like I went through too quickly even though I was there for 2 hours. It's somewhere that time just goes by so quickly.
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GORGEOUS!
You know that part in Happy Gilmore when Chubbs tells Happy to go to his "Happy Place?" This may be my new "happy place." :)
Absolutely beautiful roses. Thousands and thousands of them, waiting patiently for your attention.
I am one of those people that has to stop at almost every bush and sniff the buds...yes they are all roses, but they all smell differently...some are citrus-scented, others are more wild-flower-like.
I loved every second here and I can't wait to go back!
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I've never seen this many roses in my life. I'm trying to comprehend the amount of roses at this place. I just can't wrap my mind around it. Amazing.
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The rose garden is an obvious stop for locals and tourists alike to appreciate Portland's favorite flower and ooh and ah over the gorgeous skyline of Mount Hood at the same time.
Being a "test garden" it is a local laboratory for rose cultivation and experimentation. There are roses in this plot of local land that don't exist anywhere else in the world!
On a beautiful sunny weekend day when the roses are in bloom, this place tends to be PACKED! If you're wanting to smell the roses but ditch the crowd, opt for Peninsula Park Rose Garden in North Portland.
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Portland's Rose Test Garden is one of many things that should not be missed on a visit here. I went after the peak blooms had made their appearance and was still stunned at the variety and the quantity of roses here. I've never seen anything like it: thousands of different breeds of roses in every imaginable shade of orange, red, purple, yellow, white...some with blooms nearly as big as a dinner plate, some with tiny buds the size of a quarter. It's astounding and an absolute must see.
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Great place for an afternoon, early evening walk. On a clear day there is an absolutely beautiful view of downtown and Mt. Hood. The garden is very well kept and the roses and stunning. Really, it's an opportune place to get the romancing on, so pack up that blanket and pica-nic basket.
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Incredibly beautiful and totally free. I was in Portland years before I finally went to see why everyone raved, and now it's on my list of must sees for anyone that comes to visit.
It's also very close to the wonderful (but not free) Japanese Garden as well.
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[note: i am a tourist]
so, there i was.
in portland, and totally hungover.
i wanted to eat, but i knew that if i ate anything i would regret it. so the boy was randomly driving around portland, and we eventually made our way to the rose garden.
stumbled to a nice little area in the shade under a tree and we lay together smelling the roses and enjoying the tended nature. when suddenly, i realized and remarked, "this is what people did in the 19th century for fun." the boy understood that that kind of thing unnerves me a bit, so he calmly said that people in the 21th century still do it for fun, and wasn't this fun.
and you know what? it WAS fun. and all the roses totally cured my raging hangover, after an hour of frolick pre-tv style, i was able to go have a yummy lunch at the rogue brewery AND keep everything down.
AND they even sold rose tea at the tiny gift shop, which i have been looking for forever! so yay.
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so many varieties, the view, just everything. this garden is just amazing for being free and well maintained.
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Is it wrong of me to say that I find it beautiful in the middle of March when the flowers aren't even in bloom yet? It's just so serene and peaceful and fresh smelling. The bf, sister, and I took a walk around, but I was the only one who has been there when the roses have actually been in bloom. It's hard to believe that these little nubs of rose bushes end up being as tall or taller than me.
It's definitely one of those places that makes you see why Portland is the city of roses. Definitely a must see, whether in bloom or not.
Quintessential Portland. Portland is the city of roses and you can come here to walk among a variety of rose bushes (all nicely labeled and scattered all over the hillside) all the while, you have a picture perfect view of downtown Portland and the majestic snow-topped Mt. Hood.
Its also really close to downtown and very easy to get to with a car. You can visit at anytime of year, but of course in late spring, early summer the roses are in full bloom and you can see and smell all of the many varieties of rose bushes nicely placed all over this lovely garden So come and breath in the sweet smell of roses and fresh Oregon air and enjoy the view.
They don't call Portland the City of Roses for nothin'! This is a huge (supposedly one of the largest in the U.S.) beautiful rose garden with roses of all sizes & colors. And it's free!
Looks like you can have a wedding there too...either that, or they were taking photos. I didn't pay that much attention to the group I saw.
It's up on a hillside near downtown Portland in the same area as the Japanese Garden. We went on a weekend late morning and didn't have too much of a problem parking, just down the road a little ways down the hill from the garden.
This is one of the largest, most beautiful gardens I have ever seen in my life. To sum it up, it's a delight to the senses. Visually, it is beautiful and the air smells like roses in bloom. They have every type, size and color of rose imagineable and they are all so beautiful. It's a great place to go on a walk and explore, and I imagine it to be a very romantic spot for a date. I highly recommend visiting the rose garden if you are ever in Portland.
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Really cool.
Its great anytime of year for something. You can take a run through it just about anytime and even if its not spring, its still beautiful. You feel like you are miles away from the city.
They have tennis courts up there and they are so incredible to play on during the summer beacuase of the fragrance from the flowers. (I think they can be reserved through portland parks website).
Parking is tough, plan on carpooling or hikin it.
Portland is known as "the City of Roses" and one stroll around this heavenly garden and you instantly know why. I was fortunate enough to visit this garden in September and it was in full bloom. There are so many different beds of roses. I love how they even have roses growing up the light posts. Its exquisite and very well designed. They also have placards of information so you can locate your favorite rose variety and each bed has the name of the roses on little posts in the ground. It is illegal to pick the roses and there is a big fine, so bring your camera and take a photo instead. It's romantic and startling beautiful garden. If you're in Portland you have to enjoy this garden at least once!
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