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Best Spots for Spring Flowers
Admire beautiful blooms at these Portland parks and gardens, and the surrounding area.
Find your favorite blooms, from roses to rhododendrons and tulips to trilliums, with our guide to where to spot spring flowers in Portland and beyond.
Waterfront Park
If you stroll through downtown Waterfront Park in late March through early April the breathtaking sight of 100 Akebono cherry trees popping with pink and white petals might steal you away for a bloom-backed selfie. The trees were given to Portland by a group from the Japanese Grain Importers Association in 1990.
Tryon Creek State Park
One of the region’s earliest blooming native flowers, trilliums area common site in the Pacific Northwest forests. These small, white flowers are abundant in Portland’s only state park, Tryon Creek. So abundant, in fact, that the park hosts an annual Trillium Festival each April. If you miss the festivities, you can still find the flowers yourself and enjoy Tryon’s hiking, biking and horse trails all season long.
Forest Park
Trilliums are also found blooming along many trails in Northwest Portland’s Forest Park, which sprawls over more than 5,000 wooded acres (2,023 hectares) and boasts 70 miles (113 km) of paths filled with fascinating flora and fauna.
Hoyt Arboretum
From Forest Park, follow the Beech Trail to Hoyt Arboretum in Washington Park. Home to more than 2,000 species of shrubs and trees, Hoyt has plenty to offer all year-round. Spring highlights include bell-shaped Oregon plum flowers, magnolias, blooming dogwood and cherry blossoms.
Japanese and Chinese Gardens
For cherry trees in a more traditional setting, visit the Portland Japanese Garden, heralded as one of the most authentic Japanese gardens outside of Japan itself. And while you’re exploring authentic Asian gardens, don’t miss downtown’s Lan Su Chinese Garden. In spring, fragrant scents of daphne and Edgeworthia enhance this Ming Dynasty-style garden.
Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden
Visit Southeast Portland’s Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden in April or May to catch its collection of rare rhododendrons, azaleas and hybrids in full bloom. The garden boasts 7 idyllic acres (2.8 hectares), including three waterfalls, two picturesque bridges and tranquil Crystal Springs Lake, where nearly 100 species of birds feed and nest. For an extra treat, visit the garden in April for the annual Rhododendron & Daffodil Show & Sale and in May for its annual Mother’s Day Rhododendron Show & Sale.
Portland Rose Gardens
No flora-viewing adventure would be complete without the City of Roses’ namesake flowers. Both Peninsula Park in North Portland and the International Rose Test Garden boast thousands of rare and beautiful rose bushes. The flowers typically begin to bud in early April. To catch them at their peak, visit in early June and don’t miss the Grand Floral Parade at the annual Portland Rose Festival!
Spring Color Around the Region
Camassia Natural Area
Bursting with color in late April and early May, the Camassia Natural Area in West Linn was carved out thousands of years ago by the great floods, but it’s a natural work of art that’s stood the test of time. A 16-mile (26 km) drive south of downtown Portland, the 26-acre (11 ha) preserve can get muddy in the springtime — but from its trails, you’ll see more than 300 different plant species and plenty of familiar birds flocking overhead (a view worth risking a little dirt on your shoes).
Nearby Cities
In search for the best spring blooms? Look around these nearby cities.
Oregon City
The final wagon stop on the Oregon trail, Oregon City welcomes visitors with food, drink, museums and outdoor activities.
Lake Oswego
Whether you’re hitting the links, shopping designer consignment or sipping drinks on a shore-side patio, you’ll enjoy the tranquility Lake Oswego affords.
St. Helens
St. Helens pairs outdoor experiences with antique shops and Twilight souvenirs.
Cooper Mountain Nature Park
About 10 miles (16 km) west of Portland, Beaverton’s Cooper Mountain Nature Park features 3.5 miles (6 km) of gravel trails — excellent footing from which to explore the 231 acres (93 ha) of prairies and woodlands. The trails also offer views of the Chehalem Mountains and Tualatin Valley, showing off Oregon’s natural splendor with bursts of wildflowers all around.
Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm
A 45-minute journey south of Portland delivers you to Woodburn’s Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm, home to 40 acres of colorful tulips. The annual Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival returns every spring, offering wine tasting, wagon rides, children’s activities, a food court and a marketplace with freshly picked tulips and bulbs for fall planting.
Spring Flowers
View gorgeous blooms at these local parks and gardens.
Upcoming Outdoor Events
Enjoy the great outdoors at these upcoming events in Portland.
Piano Push Play
Piano Push Play invites local artists to transform old, donated pianos into whimsical works of art which are distributed across the city.
The Corn Maize at the Pumpkin Patch
The Corn Maize, located on Sauvie Island north of Portland, offers visitors eight acres of physical and mental challenges in a cornfield.
Dahlia Festival
Celebrate the season of DAHLIAS. A Rainbow of Color. Stroll through almost 40 acres and a beautiful display garden of stunning dahlias featuring over 370 varieties. The beautiful fields are open from August to September each year, closed on Monday and Tuesday. Pick out and order your favorite dahlias for Spring delivery and planting. Purchase…
Kenton Farmers Market
The Kenton Farmers Market is located in the heart of the historic Kenton neighborhood in North Portland. Founded in 2012, the market’s live music and the festive street-fair atmosphere thrive in this growing business district. Proximity to a MAX station and easy access for bicyclists and those on foot make this market a lively and…
Chapman Swift Watch
Every September, spectators gather to see the world’s largest roost of Vaux’s swifts swarm and spiral into the chimney of a Northwest Portland school.
O- Tsukimi, The Moonviewing Festival
Moonviewing, or O-Tsukimi in Japanese, is the custom of gazing at the full moon and enjoying its sacred beauty. Portland Japanese Garden schedules this beloved annual tradition to coincide with the harvest moon from September to early October. During Moonviewing, people gather to appreciate the moon’s beauty and pray for good fortune and an abundant…
O-Tsukimi Moon Viewing Festival
Moonviewing, or O-Tsukimi in Japanese, is the custom of gazing at the full moon and enjoying its sacred beauty. Portland Japanese Garden schedules this beloved annual tradition to coincide with the harvest moon from September to early October. During Moonviewing, people gather to appreciate the moon’s beauty and pray for good fortune and an abundant…
Edgefield Concerts on the Lawn
With acts that have ranged from Al Green to ZZ Top, McMenamins Edgefield Concerts on the Lawn are an annual rite of summer and the hottest ticket in town.
Hollywood Farmers Market
Year-round on Saturdays, the Hollywood Farmers Markets hosts 50+ vendors, bringing you the best of the region’s agricultural bounty. In addition to amazingly fresh, local food, you’ll find live music, children’s activities, and fun events throughout the season. April through September, every Saturday 8 AM to 1 PM,October and November, every Saturday 9 AM to…
Rocky Butte Farmers Market
Rocky Butte Farmers Market, an iconic urban neighborhood market featuring affordable locally grown foods and artisan products, weekly children's activities, live entertainment, and a dog-friendly, energetic block party vibe, is back for the 2023 Season. The market's goal is to lower barriers to market participation for beginning and under-represented vendors and to strengthen connections within…
Dogtoberfest
Celebrate the fall with a day full of pampering and dog-friendly activities at the annual Dogtoberfest – Portland’s pet-friendliest Oktoberfest party and biggest dog wash. Enjoy music, food, beer–including a special brew made just for DoveLewis–and pet-loving vendors, all while your pup receives a wash and nail trim. Donations and proceeds from the event go…
Portland Marathon
The fast and beautiful Portland Marathon presented by OHSU Health is the best way to experience the Rose City. With four epic bridge crossings, a downtown start and finish, and a tour through some of the most iconic landmarks and neighborhoods in town, the Portland Marathon, presented by OHSU Health, offers the most unique race…
Lents International Farmers Market
Lents International Farmers Market opens on Sunday, June 4, 2023, and is open every Sunday through November 19, 2023. The Lents International Farmers Market (LIFM) is the only one in Portland with an intentional international focus. LIFM provides fresh, affordable and culturally appropriate produce to the diverse community of Lents neighbors. Founded in 2006 by…
Hood River Hops Fest
The Hood River Hops Fest returns for its 19th year, celebrating the fresh-hopped beers of this beloved region. Awarded silver medal for best beer festival from the Willamette Week, Oregon Beer Awards, the Hood River Hops Fest is an annual celebration of beer’s bitter friend, freshly harvested hops. World-renowned hop-growing regions surround Hood River County,…
Hood River Valley Harvest Fest
The valley’s best farms and orchards bring their bounty to Hood River Harvest Fest with stands full of produce, giant displays of apples, pears, squash, raw honey, beautiful flowers, local plants, herbs, and more. Stock up for the season with basketfuls this autumn’s harvest. The artists and makers you will find at Hood River Harvest…
Matsutake Hunting at the Oregon Coast
Join fellow Friends of JAMO on a field trip to hunt and gather matsutake mushrooms on the Oregon Coast. Trip Details: Meet at Adobe Resort in Yachats on Saturday, October 21, 9:00 a.m.The event fee covers orientation, guided mushroom collecting in the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, Saturday dinner, and Sunday breakfast. Participants are responsible…
West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta
This annual race series consists of paddlers piloting a gaggle of gigantic gourds through a watercourse.
Run Like Hell Half Marathon
Join in for this fun, family-friendly, Halloween-themed event on Saturday, October 28. Dress in costume and join in for a Half, 10k, or 5k run/walk. 2023 theme: Saturday Night Live. Come dressed as your favorite character from the iconic tv show. This event is fun for the whole family, with live music, a costume contest,…
Howloween
The zoo provides a fun and safe setting for this Halloween tradition, where costumed trick-or-treaters learn about healthy habitats for wildlife with engaging activities throughout the zoo. Complimentary treat bags are available for participants. In keeping with the zoo's mission, all the treats come from companies that are committed to using deforestation-free palm oil. Bring…
Silverton Christmas Market
Join an awe-inspiring light display and market at the Oregon Garden Resort. This annual event offers a joyous and magical holiday experience for all ages. Stroll along immersive paths draped in more than one million lights. Explore the authentic German Christmas Market for gifts from artisan vendors and imported German nutcrackers, smokers and ornaments. Visit…
Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony
Portland’s Tree Lighting will be live in person at Pioneer Courthouse Square the day after Thanksgiving, Friday, November 24th. Featuring a joyful sing-along with Portland’s own Thomas Lauderdale from Pink Martini, local musicians and chorale singers, this event is the highlight of the holiday season downtown. Join in the celebration as Santa Claus flips the…
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