Visiting the Duniway Park Lilac Garden in Portland

I’m ashamed to admit how long it’s taken me to visit the Lilac Duniway Garden, considering I’ve lived in Portland my entire adult life. Better late than never, or so they say.

This is a local gem that is seldom shared and I’m not sure why. Lilacs remind me of my mom, so this garden has a very special place in my heart and I’m happy to share it with you.

Will and I took a stroll down to the garden Saturday morning to breathe in the fresh air and the unmistakable lilac fragrance – spoiler alert: it did NOT disappoint. If you’d like to visit for yourself, here’s a few helpful things to know.

History of the Duniway Park Lilac Garden

The Duniway Park lilac garden is named after Abigail Scott Duniway, a prominent suffragist and advocate for women’s rights in Oregon. The garden was first planted in 1931 by the Portland Rose Society. It was later purchased by a member of the The Portland Garden Club, who donated it to the city.

Over the years, it has grown into a beloved park featuring more than 200 varieties of lilacs, attracting locals with fragrant blooms every spring. The park is managed by Portland Parks & Recreation in partnership with The Portland Garden Club.

Best time to visit

There’s an estimated 225 lilacs in the garden. One clear standout is the large Japanese Tree Lilac that blooms in June. Lilacs bloom between early spring through late June. We visited April 18th and the the lilacs were just starting to bloom.

Visiting the Portland lilac garden

Address: SW 6^TH Ave & Sheridan St., Portland, Oregon 97201.
Hours: Duniway Park is open daily from 5am to midnight, there is no admission fee.
Parking: A free parking lot is provided for visitors, but limit your parking to one hour because parking is strictly enforced in the area.