Discover Oregon’s Public Gardens

Open dawn to dusk.

Bush’s Pasture Park is a historic 90.5 acres of walking/running paths, wooded areas, and open meadows near downtown Salem. The park has many historical features and recreational amenities. Originally belonging to the Asahel Bush family before becoming a public park, the Bush family home now operates as a museum, contains perhaps the oldest conservatory this side of the Mississippi having been built in 1882, boasts a beautiful rose garden, has a small reservable gazebo, and an art center in the barn.

Parking permit required, free at Boyle Education Center; see website.

Explore the COCC Arboretum on a self-guided tour and discover unique botanical treasures. The Arboretum features a diverse mix of flowering trees, shrubs and coniferous species native to the High Desert. Tree markers along the route detail the landscape's natural history and offer tips for identifying regional species.

Open 9 a.m.–5 p.m. daily. Native plant walk free. Museum admission general $12, seniors $10, Age 6–16 $7, kids 5 and under free.

The Discovery Center houses the Wasco County Historical Museum and its important collection of local artifacts, photographs, books and documents as well as historical exhibits that bring the past to life. The Discovery Center also includes an immersive exploration of the Columbia River Gorge from the Ice Age to the present moment, including a life-size replica of a Columbian Mammoth and other amazing ice age creatures that once roamed here. The Museum grounds have been carefully restored with native plants and our surrounding nature paths are wheelchair accessible.

Open 6 a.m.–10 p.m. daily.

The Rose Garden is one of Corvallis' most popular weddings and outdoor event venues. From May to October, the Garden is is blooming with roses, making it a dramatic and beautiful backdrop for your event (the Garden is available for rent April 1 - October 31). The Garden is full of little surprises, from picturesque wrought-iron benches and arbors to permanent art pieces, inviting the visitor to wander the Garden's trails to discover its hidden treasures. The Garden also features a romantic arbor at its heart that is the perfect site for a wedding. Nearby picnic shelters, playgrounds, horseshoe court, and ball fields provide options to craft an event that is uniquely yours, while the Park's famous locomotive and the riverside viewing areas are the perfect backdrop for formal photos.

Open for day use year round.

Darlingtonia State Natural Site is the only Oregon state park property dedicated to the protection of a single plant species. Concurrently, the plants it protects are the only carnivorous flora in the system.

This 18-acre botanical park provides parking and a boardwalk trail out into a fen that is home to Darlingtonia californica. Also called a cobra lily, the rare, strangely-shaped plant is the only member of the pitcher plant family (Sarraceniaceae) in Oregon.

Open dawn to dusk. Donation suggested.

Arboretum at edge of Dallas City Park. Mostly native plants from Western Oregon. Maintained by volunteers and donations.

Open Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Closed weekends. Admission is free. Donation suggested.

Elk Rock Garden is located on a hillside estate overlooking the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon's Dunthorpe neighborhood.

Tsuru Island is a 3/4 acre strolling Japanese garden created and maintained by the Gresham Japanese Garden. It sits inside 21 acres of Main City Park off of Powell Boulevard surrounded by Johnson Creek. It is a public park, free and open sunrise to sunset. Dogs are allowed on leash.

Tsuru Island, originally created in the early 70s by the Japanese American Citizens League - Gresham/Troutdale was re-birthed by retired landscaper, Jim Card, still the current Garden Director. In 2025, Tsuru Island is undergoing another renovation. The project has been funded in part by a grant from Travel Oregon. This renovation focuses on authenticity and accessibility.

After enjoying Tsuru Island, stroll to the south end of the park to the other spaces developed and maintained by the Friends of Gresham Japanese Garden.

Open sunrise to sunset. No dogs.

The region's natural and cultural history come together in one serene setting at this 120-acre park. Bring a picnic and a pair of binoculars to watch for birds that flock to the park’s wetlands. Learn about Sauvie Island and some of the families who shaped it, and admire the view of an authentically restored 1850s farmhouse.

Open 10 a.m.–4 p.m. during Lilac Days (mid April through Mother’s Day). Admission $10. Kids 12 and under free. The gardens also have limited open times after Lilac Days in the spring and summer through mid-October. Check website for details.

Open dawn to dusk. Gate closes daily at 2 pm.

Breathtaking views of gardens and the Tualatin Valley abound at Jenkins Estate, a 68-acre property on the northwest slope of Cooper Mountain.

Hours:

Fall/Winter Hours
(October 15 – March 14)
10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Last entry at 4:00 PM

Spring/Summer Hours
(March 15 – October 14)
10:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Last entry at 6:00 PM

Admission:
• Lan Su Members: Free
• Adult: $16.00
• Youth (Ages 6–18): $13.00
• Child (Ages 5 & under): Free
• Senior/Student: $15.00 (Age 62+ / College Student with ID)
• Museums For All / Arts For All: $5.00 (up to 4 individuals per EBT/WIC card)

Much more than just a beautiful botanical garden, Lan Su is a creative wonder — a powerfully inspiring experience based on a 2,000-year-old Chinese tradition that melds art, history, architecture, design, and nature in perfect harmony.

Open dawn–11:30 p.m.

In the hub of downtown sits Lithia Park, Ashland's crown jewel. Lithia is a 100-acre vista of emerald lawns, pickleball courts, a sand-pit volleyball court, the Swim Reservoir at the south end of the park, picnic areas, colorful landscaping, and a playground. The park follows Ashland Creek through undeveloped woodlands and also includes a Japanese garden, two duck ponds, groves of sycamore trees, and a number of secluded spots.

The park is open daily to the public until 9 p.m. The house is currently closed. See website for details (https://westlinnoregon.gov/parksrec/mclean-house-and-park)

McLean Park and House is a charming and intimate venue, located only 20 minutes outside Portland in historic West Linn.

Open daily. Hours and admission vary seasonally. Check website for details.

The Oregon Garden is a stunning botanical garden encompassing more than 130 acres, featuring specialty gardens which showcase the diverse botanical beauty of the Willamette Valley and the Pacific Northwest. Our gardens are guaranteed to delight guests of all ages, from our Pet-Friendly Garden to our Children’s Garden.

Nestled next to the Willamette River near the Washington Jefferson Street bridge is the eight and a half-acre park known as Owen Rose Garden. The rose garden features the nationally recognized Oregon Heritage Cherry Tree, a large open turf area, a public restroom, accessible gravel walkways with benches, a pergola-lined paved walkway, a 28-foot diameter gazebo, an arbor picnic area, a parking lot and maintenance facility, and an impressive collection of heritage and heirloom roses.

Open 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Peavy Arboretum has served as an outdoor teaching lab for generations of children and adults, and is a welcoming place for visitors interested in a picnic by the pond or a long hike in the moutains. Its history is rich, and the land still shows evidence of use by the Kalapuya people, the Oregon State Forest Nursery, and the Civilian Conservation Corps Camp Arboretum. Currently, the Arboretum hosts trailheads and walking paths open to the public, the George Brown Logging Sports Arena, and the OSU Research Forests Business Office. Arboretum maintenance is funded entirely by timber harvested on the OSU Research Forests.

Admission $22.50 adult, $18.95 senior, $19.50 student, $18.50 youth (6–17), $16.50 5 and under free. Members free. Hours vary seasonally.

Portland Japanese Garden is nestled in the hills of Portland, Oregon’s iconic Washington Park, overlooking the city and providing a tranquil, urban oasis for locals and travelers alike.

Daily, dawn to dusk. There is no entrance fee and no parking fee. Donation suggested.

Large blooms, tiny blossoms, sprays of star-like whites, rosy trumpet flowers, and purple fairy caps – clematis come in a stunning variety of forms. Even the seed heads are spectacular – from wild, wiry tangles to feathery balls of fluff reminiscent of a Dr. Seuss book. With such wide diversity, no matter when you visit the Rogerson Clematis Garden, there’s always something in bloom: winter, spring, summer or fall. Take a stroll through the garden and discover the world of clematis.

Open 8 a.m.–dusk. Donation suggested. Parking fee.

Perched on craggy sandstone cliffs high above the ocean, Shore Acres State Park celebrates two sorts of beauty: ruggedly organic and artfully constructed. Shore Acres features a formal garden inspired by the original, with plants and flowers from all over the world. Visitors find a Japanese-style garden with lily pond and two carefully curated rose gardens that include All-American Rose Selections. Something is in bloom almost every day of the year: the first spring bulbs pop up in late February; rhododendrons and azaleas soon follow; roses bloom through the summer; and dahlias appear August through mid-October.

Hours vary seasonally. Upper gardens: $10.95 elevator fee, senior/military $9.95, age 6–12 $5.95, under 6 free.

The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother, The Grotto, is an internationally-renowned Catholic shrine and botanical garden located minutes from downtown Portland, serving over 300,000 visitors annually.