Peak bloom dates for DC’s famed cherry blossoms announced - WTOP News (2024)

FAQs

What is the best time to see cherry blossoms in D.C. in 2024? ›

I MAY get commissions for purchases made through links in this post. The cherry blossoms reached peak bloom on March 17, 2024. That's the second-earliest on record. On average, DC's cherry blossoms bloom around the last week of March into the first week of April.

In the right conditions, they can last up to nearly 2 weeks after peak bloom. In the wrong conditions, they can be gone in 3-5 days.

The most likely time to reach peak bloom is between the last week of March and the first week of April. Extraordinary warm or cool temperatures have resulted in peak bloom as early as March 15 (1990) and as late as April 18 (1958). How long is peak bloom? The Yoshino trees typically bloom for a period of several days.

Because climate change is warming up most of the planet, this is affecting the timing of the bloom date for cherry blossoms. In Washington D.C., cherry blossoms on average have been blooming about a week earlier than 100 years ago — and this year was even earlier than that. It's not just a Washington D.C. problem.

Crowds take in DC cherry blossoms in peak bloom

The National Park Service declared peak bloom on March 17. Historically, the flowers tend to reach peak bloom between the last week of March and the first week of April, with an average date of April 3, according to the National Park Service.

Peak bloom is when 70% of the iconic cherry blossoms open on the Yoshino cherry trees around the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC. The full blooming period lasts from several days to up to two weeks, depending on weather conditions.

Peak bloom for 2024 was reached on March 17.

The blooming period, when 20 percent of the blossoms are open before the petals and leaves fall, can last up to 14 days, depending on weather conditions. Just remember that "forecasting peak bloom is almost impossible more than 10 days in advance," according to NPS.

Heavy rain and strong winds can indeed knock petals off.

So there is a factual basis for concern.

Yoshino cherries produce many single white blossoms that create the effect of white clouds around the Tidal Basin. Known as Somei-yoshino in Japan, Yoshinos are a hybrid first introduced in Tokyo in 1872. Now, Yoshinos are one of the most popular cultivated flowering cherry trees.

Choose a location with full to partial sun, adequate soil drainage, and ample room for the fully grown branches. We recommend that you allow 10 to 20 feet of space between trees so that you can enjoy their handsome growth habit. If planting near a house, be mindful of falling petals and falling leaves.

What is the fruit of cherry blossoms? ›

Though these trees were bred for flowers, not fruit, some do produce small cherries, which appear during the summer. They're too sour for people to eat, but birds like them.

There are a few methods that can be used to propagate a cherry blossom tree, including grafting, softwood cuttings, and air layering. Propagating using softwood cuttings must be done at the right time, just as buds appear and early in the morning.

On average, the blooms come out sometime around the last week of March through the first week of April, and that's typically a good time to aim for if you're planning on visiting. But precisely when peak bloom occurs depends on the weather in the weeks and months leading up to it.

After the end of this spring's National Cherry Blossom Festival, the National Park Service will cut down 158 cherry trees from the nearly 3,700 total to reconstruct a seawall around the Tidal Basin, fortifying the area against sea level rise and extreme precipitation events.

The National Mall and Memorial Parks are a popular destination for viewing the cherry blossoms. Take a stroll down the paths and take in the beauty of the cherry blossom trees that line the memorials including at the FDR Memorial – one of the most spectacular places to view them.

Buying Tickets to See the Cherry Blossoms

There's no entry fee, and the area is open 24 hours to pedestrian traffic. Specific events elsewhere that are on the National Cherry Blossom Festival's program might require tickets. You can find the events schedule here.

The National Mall and Memorial Parks are a popular destination for viewing the cherry blossoms. Take a stroll down the paths and take in the beauty of the cherry blossom trees that line the memorials including at the FDR Memorial – one of the most spectacular places to view them.

The news everyone has been waiting for, here is the cherry blossom forecast for 2024. This year's cherry blossoms are expected to bloom one to seven days earlier than average. The earliest cherry blossoms can be seen in Jeju Island around March 24, while Seoul will have to wait until April 3.

Tidal Basin. An iconic location with more than 4,000 cherry trees, the area offers picturesque views of cherry blossoms framed by the Jefferson Memorial and the Washington Monument. As one of D. C's most popular destinations during cherry blossom season, expect huge crowds during peak bloom.