Portland, Oregon's Most Beautiful Gardens

Portland, nicknamed "The City of Roses," is known for its numerous lush, diverse gardens. Portland and the surrounding areas have over 150 public gardens, many of which are free to visit. In this article, we describe some of our favorite Portland gardens. If you need more information regarding Portland's many gardens, feel free to give us a call.

Portland Japanese Garden

The Portland Japanese Garden is thought by many to be one of the most authentic Japanese gardens outside Japan. It features quiet streams and paths, an authentic Japanese tea house, and beautiful views of Mount Hood. A Cultural Village is also part of the garden. It includes classrooms, exhibition spaces, and an onsite cafe.

The garden is made up of five garden styles. The Tea Garden has a stone walking path designed to assist with meditation, as is the Sand and Stone Garden. The Natural Garden reflects changing seasons. The Strolling Pond Garden winds through rows and rows of iris. The Flat Garden is meant to create a landscape portrait.

The Portland Japanese Garden does offers guided tours of the grounds as part of the admission cost. The typical time spent in the park is around two hours. Parking is available, but limited.

Address: 611 SW Kingston Ave, Portland, OR
Hours: Wednesday through Monday, 10:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m (Closed Tuesdays)
Distance from us: 5.5 miles

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International Rose Test Garden

The International Rose Test Garden, also known as the Portland Rose Garden, was origianlly established as a place to test new varieties of roses. It typically has over 600 varieties and over 10,000 roses on display. From the garden, you can also enjoy great views of Mount Hood and downtown Portland. The garden is the oldest continuously-operated, public rose test garden in the country.

When visiting the International Rose Test Garden, you'll want to make sure you visit the Shakespeare Garden, as well as the Gold Medal Garden. The site also features a number of rose arbors.

The International Rose Test Garden is free to visit. The best time to visit is between May and September. Parking is available, but limited.

Address: 400 SW Kingston Ave, Portland, OR
Hours: Daily, 7:30 a.m. –9:00 p.m.
Distance from us: 6.5 miles

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Lan Su Chinese Garde

Built by Chinese artists from the city of Suzhou, Lan Su Chinese Garden is representative of a Ming Dynasty style garden. It is filled with koi ponds, covered walkways and bridges, colonnades, and pavilions. The garden seamlessly blends nature, art, and architecture into a peaceful and relaxing experience.

One of the highlights of Lan Su Chinese Garden is the Tower of Cosmic Reflections, a Chinese tea room overlooking Lake Zither. Here, you can enjoy a traditional Chinese tea service.

Admission to Lan Su Chinese Garden is free to members; otherwise, it is a nominal cost. Parking is available on the street surrounding the garden. Depending on the day of the week, there may be costs for parking.

Address: 239 NW Everett St, Portland, OR
Hours: Thursday through Tuesday, 10:00a.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Distance from us: 3.3 miles

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Peninsula Park Rose Garden

Although not a well known as some of Portland's gardens, Peninsula Park Rose Garden is close to Piedmont Vacation Rentals (walking distance) and one of our favorites. It is also Portland's first public rose garden. Here, you'll find over 50 varieties of roses and over 5,000 individual flowers. At the center of the garden is a beautiful fountain, surrounded by decorative brick walkways, that flows into a sparkling elliptical pool.

You can tour Peninsula Park Rose Garden for free, and parking along the street surrounding the park is free. Peninsula Park Rose Garden is also one of Portland's most accessible gardens.

Address: 700 N Rosa Parks Way, Portland, OR
Hours: Daily, 7:30 a.m. until 9:30 p.m.
Distance from us: 0.6 miles

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