The park was established in 1952 as part of the celebration of the city's sesquicentennial.
It is an accredited site for the testing of new rose varieties before they are released to the public market.
The garden contains an extensive collection of historic rose varieties that date back to the early 20th century.
The park's design includes a specific 'Heritage Garden' intended to showcase the evolution of rose breeding.
The garden is maintained with the help of a specialized volunteer corps that assists in deadheading and pruning.
It is one of the few rose gardens in the country to receive an official designation as an All-America Rose Selections display garden.
The Columbus Park of Roses is a 13-acre public garden located within Whetstone Park in the Clintonville neighborhood. It features over 12,000 rose bushes representing more than 400 unique varieties, making it one of the largest public rose gardens in the United States. The grounds are divided into distinct sections, including a formal rose garden, a heritage garden, and a perennial garden. The garden serves as an official test site for the All-America Rose Selections program. Its landscape design incorporates paved walkways, stone walls, and brick paths that wind through collections of hybrid teas, floribundas, and grandifloras. A dedicated greenhouse and an herb garden are maintained on-site to supplement the seasonal plantings. The site is managed through a public-private partnership between the City of Columbus and the Columbus Parks of Roses Foundation.
The raised gazebo or the stone stairs overlooking the formal rose beds which provide a panoramic view of the symmetry.
Visit in mid-June for the peak bloom period when the majority of roses are in full flower.
Check the 'Bloom Map' on the official website before visiting to see which sections are currently at their most vibrant.
Wear comfortable walking shoes, as the paths cover a significant area with some inclines.
Visiting in late autumn or early spring when the roses are pruned back or dormant, resulting in less visual impact.
The park is open year-round, but the rose displays are strictly seasonal, peaking in early summer and continuing sporadically through early autumn.
Stay on marked paths to protect the delicate root systems of the rose beds; do not pick the flowers.
