Once spring comes, Portland—and the rest of Oregon—gets outside and refuses to go back in. The flowers in Portland are the same way: They start to bloom at the first sign of spring and keep on going until the frosts in the fall. It’s no wonder flower festivals in Portland are such a draw for locals and visitors alike!

After all, flowers in the Portland area are the perfect antidote to a long, grey, drizzly winter. You can’t help but smile at the sight of tulips, roses or dahlias.

The thought of flower festivals in Portland keeps me going through the winter, in part because going to a flower farm is one of my family’s favorite activities in Oregon. We enjoy the flowers in the field—and of course bring home a bouquet to brighten up the house!

We first started going to the tulip festival in Oregon—or, as I like to think of it, the gateway drug to Oregon flower festivals. But once I realized this state grows much more than tulips, I began seeing flower festivals everywhere!

So if you’re planning travel to Oregon this spring or summer, these best places to walk among the flowers in Portland area are must-see destinations.

Our 10 favorite places to see flowers in Portland

Ready to stop and smell the roses—and lavender, and tulips, and lots of other flowers in Portland? Here are our favorite spots to take in the blooms.

Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival in Oregon

The Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival is the most famous flower festival in Portland. Millions of tulips bloom at this tulip festival in Oregon every spring, creating fields of vibrant color my kids and I absolutely love to explore.

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Know that the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival is a working farm—so it does get muddy on rainy days! (Spring days in Oregon are as temperamental as a toddler—you never know if you’ll get sunny skies or a downpour.) Wear boots and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty because if your kids are anything like mine, they’ll find the first puddle and fall butt-first into it.

The tulip festival near Portland also has vendors, food, a playground my kids love and some family-friendly attractions, such as a bounce house and pony rides (for an additional charge). Weekends draw big crowds as well as extra activities—like hot air balloons!

If you’re looking for flowers in the Portland area this spring, you can’t miss the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival—the biggest and most colorful tulip festival in Oregon.

(2019 update: The late snows and frost in Oregon delayed the tulip blooms. According to the festival, the second week of April should be the best time to visit the tulips.)

Rhododendrons in Portland

These native flowers, which grow on bushes that can grow several stories tall, are everywhere in Oregon. They thrive in the Pacific Northwest’s rainy climate, and their peak bloom is usually in May.

There’s a rhododendron festival near Portland in Florence, OR on the coast, but you don’t have to drive that far to enjoy them. The Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden is a gorgeous place to see these flowers in Portland.

It’s a meticulously designed and landscaped garden on 9 1/2 acres near Reed College. Your kids will love seeing the ducks on the rhododendron garden’s ponds and marshlands, and the variety of rhodies will impress any flower-lover.

Camas flowers in Portland

I know, you’re thinking, What in the world is camas? Although this wildflower is much less well known than the other flowers in Portland, it was critical for Native Americans, who ate the bulbs of these blooms.

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My favorite place to see camas flowers near Portland is at Camassia Nature Preserve in West Linn. Just three minutes off I-205, a mile-long loop takes you through fields of purple camas when it’s in bloom, usually late April. The trail is mostly flat—perfect for hiking with children—and includes a beautiful view of Mt. Hood on a clear day.

You can also attend the Camas Festival in Tigard in April.

Oregon lavender farms

Get ready to breathe in… and relax. No, you’re not in a spa; you’re in the famous Oregon lavender farms!

Lavender grows extremely well in Oregon, and you’ll find wonderful lavender farms near Portland. Our favorite is Lavender Valley on Mt. Hood, a small farm near Hood River where you can stand in the lavender fields within sight of Mt. Hood’s snowy peak. (5965 Boneboro Rd, Mt. Hood, Oregon)

Early to mid-summer tends to be peak lavender season in Oregon. There are also lavender festivals throughout the summer, where vendors set up their wares, you can wander through the fragrant fields, and you can buy lavender-scented lotions and candles to enjoy back at home.

Here is a map of Oregon lavender farms—find one near you when you visit Portland this spring and summer!

Irises in Portland

When I was growing up, wild irises popped up every spring in our yard, so I have a special place in my heart for these gorgeous blooms. Luckily, I get to see irises in Portland, too!

The absolute best place to see irises near Portland is a bit south of the city, at Schreiner’s Iris Gardens in Salem, Oregon. It’s a 45-minute drive from downtown Portland and you’ll see 10 acres of every color of iris. Iris bloom season is May, and the garden is open daily during the month.

Weekends have vendors, tastings and of course fresh-cut irises to take home. You can also buy rhizomes to plant at home, and workshops on how to plant and separate irises happen periodically through May.

Cherry blossoms in Portland

The best place to see cherry blossoms in Portland is the Tom McCall Waterfront Park, which winds through downtown Portland. The Willamette River separates East Portland from West Portland and has dozens of cherry trees planted along its banks, which makes it one of the most gorgeous places in Portland every spring.

The timing of cherry blossoms depends on weather, of course, and they don’t last long—particularly because of this region’s rain. But look for cherry blossoms March to April.

While you’re here in Portland, Oregon, stop by the Portland Japanese Garden. The gardens have a weeping cherry tree in the Flat Garden and Yoshino cherry trees in the Strolling Pond Garden. They’re beyond gorgeous places to see flowers in Portland!

If you’re up for a longer drive, visit the Northwest Cherry Festival in The Dalles in late April. There’s a cherry-themed parade, local vendors, samples and of course lots of cherry-flavored goodies.

Roses in Portland

The International Rose Test Garden in Washington Park is home to more than 10,000 rose bushes, which makes it the best place to see roses in Portland. This garden is public so it’s free for anyone to explore; you just have to pay for parking along the street or take public transportation.

The best time to see roses in Portland is June, but they bloom late spring through early fall.

Level 10 travel tip: If you’re in Washington Park to see roses in Portland, you’re right next to tons of other family-friendly destinations! Check out my post on the Portland Japanese Garden, the Oregon Zoo and the Hoyt Arboretum, which are all within minutes of the Rose Test Garden.

Roses bloom across the city, so keep an eye out for these fragrant flowers in Portland. One of my favorite places to see roses in Portland is the Ladd Circle Rose Garden, at the heart of the maze-like Ladd’s Addition, an historic neighborhood in Southeast Portland.

Portland Rose Festival

You can’t talk about flowers in Portland without mentioning the Portland Rose Festival, which happens over several weeks from the end of May to beginning of June. The star event of the Portland Rose Festival is the Grand Floral Parade, which shuts down part of the city to allow for hundreds of floats. You can also literally stop and smell the roses at the festival’s rose show.

Festival of Flowers in downtown Portland

Pioneer Courthouse Square is nicknamed Portland’s Living Room because it’s a central meeting place for everyone in town. The open-air area, which covers an entire city block, is home to live music, a gorgeous fountain, a visitor’s center—and a flower festival in Portland.

The Portland Festival of Flowers is an installation of more than 20,000 blooms. Like everything else in Pioneer Courthouse Square, it’s free and open to the public. This year, it will run May 22-June 4, 2019.

Level 10 travel tip: While you’re in Pioneer Courthouse Square, don’t miss a photo with one of Portland’s most recognizable (and Instagrammable) landmarks—the Umbrella Man!

Dahlia Festival near Portland

At the end of the summer—the last weekend in August and Labor Day weekend—brings gorgeous dahlia blooms. This flower festival near Portland is a half-hour from downtown at Swan Island Dahlia Farm in Canby, Oregon. The festival includes food, music and of course thousands of dahlias in bloom.

Not in Portland during the dahlia festival? Swing by the farm anyway for cut flowers July-September. This farm has cultivated many of its own varieties of the flower. Ask staff which ones!

Where to see flowers in Portland

Once spring arrives in Portland, everyone goes nuts for the outdoors: We’ve earned it after a long, grey winter! So do like a local and take in these flowers in Portland. Between dahlias, lavender, irises, a tulip festival in Oregon and more, you have plenty of options to choose from.

Have you visited any of these flower festivals in Portland? Did I miss any you love? Please share below!

PS – If you’re looking for more activities near Portland, take a look at my post on 14 day trips from Portland!