Portland International Rose Test Garden
What do 10,000 roses smell like? Come to the Portland International Rose Test Garden in Washington Park and find out. The Portland Rose Garden showcases more than 650 rose varieties, covers 4.5 acres and attracts approximately 700,000 visitors yearly. Read on to learn more about this spectacular garden, its rich history and how to get the most out of a visit.
History of the International Rose Test Garden
In the early 1900s, Jesse A. Curry, rose hobbyist and Oregon Journal editor, asked Portland’s Park Bureau leaders to create a rose garden. It was meant to protect and cultivate European roses that were vulnerable to destruction during World War I. In 1917, the Bureau approved his request, and rose hybridizers began sending over the fragrant plants in 1918. Originally, the garden’s size was only one block, and it was shoehorned between a playground and an elk corral! The picturesque site is the oldest continuously operated public rose test garden in the United States.
Why Is It Called a Test Garden?
The Portland Rose Garden is called a test garden because it’s a testing ground for new rose varieties. It also helps determine which roses are marketable. Most of the roses in the garden are commercially available. Each year, the garden releases 10 to 20 of its best varieties for sale. The plants are tested for vigor, number of flowers, foliage, hardiness and fragrance. They’re also given a general overall assessment. Rose trials generally last two years.
What Types of Roses Are in the Garden?
The Portland International Rose Test Garden houses four sections:
#1: Miniature Rose Garden
Get ready for a cuteness overload in the Miniature Rose Garden! This garden is devoted to testing miniature roses to determine whether they’d successfully grow for commercial use.
#2: Golden Award Garden
This rose garden contains Best New Rose Variety winners from multiple years.
#3: The Royal Rosarian Garden
The Royal Rosarian Garden is named after the Portland Rosarians, the city’s goodwill ambassadors.
#4: The Shakespeare Garden
Names of roses in this luxuriant garden are inspired by the monikers of roses in several of the Bard’s plays. They include the Fair Bianca Rose (Taming of the Shrew), Glamis Castle Rose (Macbeth), Othello Rose (Othello), Gentle Hermione (the Winter’s Tale) and the Prospero Rose (the Winter’s Tale).
When Do the Roses Bloom?
Roses in the Garden bloom May through October, with peak bloom at the end of June. Portland is ideal for growing roses thanks to its mild winters and lengthy growing season.
Who Takes Care of the Roses?
The flowers at the International Rose Test Garden are tended to by numerous volunteers overseen by the city of Portland, through their Parks and Recreation department. In the fall, the roses are hand-pruned to 36 to 48 inches in height as protection from winter storms. Then in early spring, the plants are pruned to 18 to 24 inches in height. This promotes vitality and shape. Insecticides are forbidden - ladybugs handle the pests!
Visiting the Portland International Rose Test Garden
Admission to the Rose Test Garden is free. Located at 400 S.W. Kingston Avenue, it’s open daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. and is closed to the public from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. every other Wednesday from May through August. Parking is very limited and fills up quickly, especially during sunny, warm weekends. Public transportation is your best bet.
The Portland International Rose Test Garden is a must-see gem. It boasts a kaleidoscopic array of blossoms and scents that rival the most high-end perfumes. Here, a rose by any other name does smell as sweet.
If you just can't get enough of the lush landscape and nature walks, check out the Japanese Garden too!