The International Rose Test Garden is a rose garden in Washington Park in Portland, Oregon, United States. There are over 10,000 rose bushes of approximately 650 varieties. The roses bloom from April through October with the peak coming in June, depending on the weather. New rose cultivars are continually sent to the garden from many parts of the world and are evaluated on several characteristics, including disease resistance, bloom formation, color, and fragrance.

History

thumb|Vintage postcard of two women in the garden.

In 1915 Jesse A. Currey, president of Portland's Rose Society and Sunday editor of the Oregon Journal, convinced city officials to institute a rose test garden to serve as a safe haven during World War I for hybrid roses grown in Europe. Rose lovers feared that these unique plants would be destroyed in the bombings. The Park Bureau approved the idea in 1917 and by early 1918, hybridists from England began to send roses.

A decade before the test garden was proposed, of Portland's streets had been lined with rose bushes for the 1905 Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition.

Originally, the garden occupied about a block, sandwiched between a playground and an elk corral.

The award called Portland's Best Rose was established in 1996. Rose experts from around the world attend a one-day judging in June and select the best rose that day from thousands of submissions. Portland remains the only North American city to issue such an award.

Features

thumb|A view of one area of the gardens.

The International Rose Test Garden covers in several tiers facing downtown Portland, the Willamette River, and East Portland. On clear days, there are views of the Cascade Range, with Mount Hood featured prominently. The Queens Walk is a brick walkway at the base of the garden with bronze plaques featuring each Queen's hand written name and year, honoring each Rose Festival queen since 1907. The plaques originally were installed in Lambert Gardens near Reed College, but were moved to the International Rose Test Garden in the early 1950s. The garden includes an amphitheater designed with the original garden.

Gardens

thumb|The American Rose Society's Miniature Rose Test Garden

The American Garden Rose Selection (AGRS) test garden covers two terraces of the Rose Garden. The roses testing in the garden are identified by number rather than by name; the plants are evaluated for two years by multiple criteria before being judged. The national annual American Rose Society winners are displayed in the middle of the garden along the center aisle. The rose garden is connected daily to downtown Portland by TriMet bus route 63-Washington Park, and to other destinations in the park, including MAX Light Rail, by the free Washington Park Shuttle.

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Rose Garden, June 2016.jpg|Aerial view.

2024-07-27 International Rose Test Garden (Portland, Oregon) 183303.jpg|Close-up of a rose.

Int. Rose Test Garden, PDX, 2017 - 2.jpg|Many events are held at the amphitheater.

International Rose Test Garden, Portland, Oregon (2013) - 6.jpeg|Fountain.

Pdx washpark rosegarden faq.jpeg|FAQ sign.

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See also

  • All-America Rose Selections
  • American Garden Rose Selections
  • Roses in Portland, Oregon

References

  • Portland Rose Society
  • The Royal Rosarians
  • A Year In The Portland Rose Garden Video produced by Oregon Field Guide