In 2002, Congress designated the rose as the National Flower.

One of the most beautiful attractions in Eastern North Carolina, the Wilson Rose Garden is an accredited All-America Rose Selections, Inc. (AARS) Public Garden. It is usually in full bloom May through October. The garden is open to the public daily from dawn until dark. Admission is free.

To assure the future of the garden, a volunteer organization, "The Wilson Deadhead Society", was formed. The 60 members volunteer their services to maintain the appearance of the garden through weekly deadheading (removing fading blooms). The Board of Directors, a group of 16 members, meets monthly to plan and develop strategies to achieve further development and to assure support for the future maintenance of the garden, The city Parks Department provides new bed construction and routine maintenance of the garden as a public park.

The Wilson Rose Garden Sculpture

Whirligigs

There are approximately 1,200 rose plants consisting of about 180 different varieties at the Wilson Rose Garden. Many types of roses are represented including Old Garden Roses, Hybrid Teas, Floribundas, Grandifloras, Miniatures, Climbing Roses, English Roses, and Shrub Roses.