Tulsa Rose Garden History: The formal terraced Tulsa Rose Garden, designed by landscape architect C. Burton Fox and constructed by the Civil Works Administration (CWA) in 1934, was originally intended to feature a wide variety of blooming flowers among its geometric parterres but quickly was transformed into a municipal rose garden by the Tulsa Garden Club. The popular journal Better Homes & Gardens recognized the Tulsa Garden Club and the Tulsa Rose Garden with its highest community honor, the More Beautiful America Achievement Award, in 1937; additional national recognition came in 1938 from the American Rose Society and the New York Times, the latter of which called Tulsa’s municipal rose garden “remarkable.”
AGRS Trial Garden on Fourth Terrace
Why the Tulsa Rose Garden Looks Different Today
Many visitors hold a deep affection for the historic Tulsa Rose Garden and its iconic beds once filled entirely with roses. However, about a decade ago, the garden was devastated by Rose Rosette Virus (RRV)- an untreatable disease that swept through the monoculture of roses and caused widespread loss. Since then, the Tulsa Parks Department has worked thoughtfully to restore the garden in a way that is both beautiful and sustainable.
Why Not Replant as It Was?
The previous design- filled almost exclusively with roses- was a monoculture, which means a single type of plant was grown across a large area. While stunning, monocultures are extremely vulnerable to pests and diseases like RRV. Once the virus took hold, it spread rapidly with no way to stop it. Relying on one plant species leaves an entire garden at risk.
A More Resilient Future
As part of the restoration, the Tulsa Parks Department has embraced biodiversity- carefully reintroducing roses alongside a wide variety of companion plants. This approach not only supports pollinators and reduces the spread of the disease, but also lowers maintenance needs and promotes a healthier, more resilient ecosystem. With only two full-time gardeners assigned to the 4.5-acre garden, the design must be both practical and sustainable for the long term.
We’re Still Celebrating Roses
Roses remain a cherished and central feature of the garden. A dedicated section now serves as an official trial site for the American Garden Rose Selections (AGRS) program, where new rose cultivars are evaluated for their beauty, performance, and disease resistance under real world conditions.
The Tulsa Rose Garden continues to evolve- not just as a place for beauty and history, but as a living example of sustainable horticulture in action.
