What U.S. city is known as the City of Roses?

Portland, Oregon, is known as the “City of Roses.” The nickname reflects the city’s long tradition of rose cultivation, its mild marine climate, and its many public rose gardens.

Portland’s rose identity grew in the late 19th century. Roses were planted throughout the city, and local enthusiasts formed the Portland Rose Society in 1889. The annual Portland Rose Festival, first held in 1907, made the flower central to the city’s civic and cultural life. Portland’s nickname was officially adopted by the City Council in 2003.

The best-known rose attraction is the International Rose Test Garden in Washington Park, established in 1917 during World War I. It became a refuge for European rose varieties and remains a major destination for evaluating and displaying roses. Portland is also home to Peninsula Park Rose Garden, Oregon’s oldest public rose garden.

A common mix-up is with Pasadena, California, which is strongly associated with the Tournament of Roses Parade. Portland also has other nicknames, including “Rose City,” “Stumptown,” and “Bridgetown,” but “City of Roses” is its canonical floral nickname.