Park & Garden

International Rose Test Garden

📍 International Rose Test Garden, Washington Park, 400 SW Kingston Ave, Portland, OR 97205

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4.2/ 5.0

★★★★☆

Quick Facts

Location: USA, Portland
Category: Park & Garden
Duration: 1-1.5 hours
Opening Hours: Daily 05:00-22:00 · 6 月盛花期与 9-10 月二度花最好看；园方维护日上午会临时闭园（2026 年 6 月 17 日、7 月 1 日 05:00-10:00），行前可查 portland.gov 的开放页
Ticket Price: Free Admission: Free entry, no booking needed · Cut roses from the beds sell for $5-10 a stem at the shop; the Japanese Garden uphill and the zoo next door charge separately
Address: International Rose Test Garden, Washington Park, 400 SW Kingston Ave, Portland, OR 97205
Coordinates: 45.5190, -122.7050

Introduction

The International Rose Test Garden sits on terraced hillside in Portland's Washington Park. Founded in 1917 to shelter European breeders' roses from the First World War, it is the longest continuously operating public rose test garden in the United States. Across 4.5 sloping acres, more than 10,000 plants in over 650 varieties are arranged into trial beds, award beds and the Gold Medal garden; forty to fifty unnamed seedlings arrive each year, trialled under code numbers for several seasons before they are named and released. June brings the peak, when hybrid teas and floribundas open across the whole slope and the scent carries from dozens of metres away; September and October offer a quieter second flush. From the upper terrace the Portland skyline stacks up to the north, with Mt. Hood's snow cone clear to the east on fine days. A small Shakespeare Garden at the eastern corner grows only plants named in the plays, and because most visitors walk straight past, it stays the calmest spot in the garden. There is no admission fee and no booking: this is where Portlanders come for an ordinary walk, and the most concrete proof of the city's Rose City name.

✨ Highlights

Terraced Beds of Ten Thousand Roses

4.5 sloping acres cut into terraces, over 10,000 plants in 650+ varieties, blooming together in June.

America's Oldest Test Garden

Founded in 1917 to shelter European roses from World War I; the longest continuously run public rose test garden in the US.

Numbered Trial Varieties

Forty to fifty unnamed seedlings are trialled here each year, coded by number for years before they earn a name.

Skyline and Mt. Hood

The upper terrace faces the Portland skyline, with Mt. Hood's snow cone clear to the east on fine days.

Shakespeare Garden

A small walled corner grows only plants named in Shakespeare's plays, each labelled with its line.

Gold Medal Garden

The central beds show the season's top-scoring trial roses, a permanent record of the annual judging.

🛈 Practical Info

→Best Season：Mid-June peak bloom across the whole slope; a quieter second flush in September and October.

→Time Needed：One to one and a half hours to walk the terraces and the Shakespeare Garden.

→Cost：Entry is free and needs no booking; only cut flowers, the Japanese Garden and the zoo cost extra.

→Quietest Hours：Before 9 am the light is low, the scent strongest and the paths nearly empty.

→Nearby：The Portland Japanese Garden is 400 m uphill; the Oregon Zoo and Forestry Center sit below.

→Accessibility：Paved ramps serve the upper terrace and main walks; steps and ramps alternate between tiers.

→Transportation：MAX Red/Blue Line to Washington Park Station, then the free park shuttle; bus 63 stops by the gate. Driving via SW Kingston Ave, though the lot fills fast in bloom season.

Opening Hours

Opening Hours
Monday	05:00-22:00
Tuesday	05:00-22:00
Wednesday	05:00-22:00
Thursday	05:00-22:00
Friday	05:00-22:00
Saturday	05:00-22:00
Sunday	05:00-22:00

6 月盛花期与 9-10 月二度花最好看；园方维护日上午会临时闭园（2026 年 6 月 17 日、7 月 1 日 05:00-10:00），行前可查 portland.gov 的开放页

Ticket Information

Ticket Information
Free Admission	Free entry, no booking needed

Cut roses from the beds sell for $5-10 a stem at the shop; the Japanese Garden uphill and the zoo next door charge separately

💡 Tips

• Peak bloom lands in the second and third weeks of June; check the garden's social feed a week ahead rather than the calendar.

• The upper terrace frames both the skyline and Mt. Hood: shoot flowers into the morning light, the city in the evening.

• The Shakespeare Garden hides at the eastern corner and most visitors walk past it; give it ten minutes.

• The paths between beds are narrow, so take the main walk with a stroller or wheelchair.

• The shop sells cut roses from the beds in season, far cheaper than city florists and the most Portland souvenir going.

• During the June Rose Festival, parking and the shuttle are strained; come up by MAX instead.

FAQ

What are the opening hours of International Rose Test Garden?

Monday: 05:00-22:00; Tuesday: 05:00-22:00; Wednesday: 05:00-22:00; Thursday: 05:00-22:00; Friday: 05:00-22:00; Saturday: 05:00-22:00; Sunday: 05:00-22:00; 6 月盛花期与 9-10 月二度花最好看；园方维护日上午会临时闭园（2026 年 6 月 17 日、7 月 1 日 05:00-10:00），行前可查 portland.gov 的开放页

How much is the admission for International Rose Test Garden?

Free Admission: Free entry, no booking needed; Cut roses from the beds sell for $5-10 a stem at the shop; the Japanese Garden uphill and the zoo next door charge separately

Any practical tips for visiting International Rose Test Garden?

Peak bloom lands in the second and third weeks of June; check the garden's social feed a week ahead rather than the calendar. The upper terrace frames both the skyline and Mt. Hood: shoot flowers into the morning light, the city in the evening.