Each spring, the cherry blossoms lining Washington DC’s Tidal Basin burst into color in a beautiful display of floral fireworks. But the peak bloom period lasts only a few days, and precisely when it happens varies each year. This site brings together information about visiting the cherry blossoms and Washington DC, peak bloom forecasts, and up-to-date photos to help you make the most of your own visit or follow along from afar.
Information
2020 Cherry Blossom Peak Bloom Forecasts
The latest information and forecasts on when Washington DC’s cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin will reach peak bloom in Spring 2020.
When is the Best Time to Visit Washington DC to See the Cherry Blossoms?
The short answer is that there’s no easy answer. On average, the peak bloom occurs sometime around the last week or so of March through the first week or so of April. But precisely when during that period varies year to year. So here’s the longer version.
Where to Stay in Washington DC for the Cherry Blossoms in 2020
Some local recommendations on where to stay if you’re visiting from out of town to see the cherry blossoms.
How to Get to the Cherry Blossoms
Information on the best ways to get down to the Tidal Basin to see the cherry blossoms, including by Metro, by car, and by bike.
What Peak Bloom Means and Why It (sort of) Matters
So what exactly is “peak bloom” anyway? When does it happen? And does it matter?
About the Kwanzan Cherry Blossoms
The Kwanzan cherry blossoms are particularly pretty and tend to come out 10-14 days after the Yoshinos. So if you miss the end of the Yoshino cherry blossoms’ bloom, the Kwanzans can offer beautiful consolation.
Climate Change and the Cherry Blossoms
The National Park Service has put together a video on the topic of how climate change affects Washington DC’s cherry blossoms.
Timelapse of Yoshino Cherry Blossoms Blooming
Timelapse footage of Yoshino cherry blossoms blooming. It captures about a week of their development leading up to full bloom.
Photography Tips
Cherry Blossom Photo Tours
If you’re looking improve your photography skills, a hands-on photo tour of the cherry blossoms can be a wonderful way to do it. Here are some recommended local photo tour operators.
Ultra-High Resolution Panorama of the Cherry Blossoms at the Tidal Basin
An ultra-high resolution 3-gigapixel panorama of Washington DC’s Tidal Basins with the cherry blossoms in bloom.
Shooting in the Dark
The cherry blossoms look great during the day, but there are also photographic opportunities at night.
Using Drones at the Tidal Basin
If you’re tempted to take photos or video of the cherry blossoms from a drone–or indeed anywhere nearby–don’t do it. Here’s why.
Latest Updates
Cherry Blossom Watch Update / Kwanzan Edition: April 12, 2019
The Kwanzan cherry blossoms are coming into bloom. There are plenty around town that are in full bloom now. The ones in east Potomac Park aren’t quite there yet, but they’re close.
Reader Photos 2019 | Part 4
Here are some more of the beautiful photos of 2019’s bloom of the cherry blossoms that were submitted by Cherry Blossom Watch readers. This is the final installment.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 10, 2019
The cherry blossoms are mostly done now. You can still find flowers out, but they’re fading fast. The good news, though, is that the warm temperatures of the past few days have helped push the Kwanzan cherry blossoms along.
Reader Photos 2019 | Part 3
Here are some more of the beautiful photos of 2019’s bloom of the cherry blossoms that were submitted by Cherry Blossom Watch readers. This is part 3.
Reader Photos 2019 | Part 2
These are some of the beautiful photos of 2019’s bloom of the cherry blossoms that were submitted by Cherry Blossom Watch readers. This is part 2–more to come.
Reader Photos 2019 | Part 1
These are some of the beautiful photos of 2019’s bloom of the cherry blossoms that were submitted by Cherry Blossom Watch readers. This is part 1–more to come.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 7, 2019
The cherry blossoms are still looking pretty, especially from a distance, but up close it’s becoming easier to tell that they’re past their prime. There are fewer petals on the trees, more petals on the ground, and more green leaves sprouting.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 6, 2019
The cherry blossoms are still looking lovely. They didn’t get through yesterday’s rain entirely unscathed–it did knock some petals off, and you can see plenty of cherry blossom “snow” on the ground. But from a distance it’s hard to tell.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 5, 2019
The rain we’ve been seeing today so far has only made a small dent, but it is making a dent.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 4, 2019
The cherry blossoms are still looking great, and while some of them are starting to look a bit fragile, very few petals have been blown off so far.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 3, 2019
Light rain showers yesterday through the late afternoon and evening had no real effect on the trees, and they’re going strong and looking wonderful.
Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 2, 2019
The cherry blossoms are going strong and looking stunning. If you look very closely at the flowers you can see that some are starting to go pink in the middle.