A sure sign that spring has arrived in Philadelphia is the blossoming of thousands of cultivated cherry trees throughout the city, in parks, gardens, streets and along waterways.
The spectacular blooms add a splash of pink, white and purple to already picturesque skyline views, trail vistas and sparkling riverbanks.
In the spring, residents and tourists alike enjoy quiet ohanami (Japanese cherry blossom picnics) to admire some of the country’s most spectacular sakura (the Japanese name for the flowering cherry trees).
But don’t just take our word for it: Publications like Lonely Planet, Time Out, Afar, and Country Living list Philadelphia as the best place in the country to enjoy cherry blossom blooms in 2024.
Expected peak flowering date in 2024
At the end of February, the National Park Service released its forecast for the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. According to Vince Marrocco, horticulture director at Morris Arboretum in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia’s cherry blossoms typically bloom a week to 10 days later than Washington, and the National Park Service predicts that Philadelphia’s cherry blossoms will peak between March 30 and April 2, 2024. “This is very early, given the warm weather we’ve had and is predicted to continue,” Marrocco said.
So how long can you see cherry blossoms for? Generally, cherry trees begin to bloom a few days before their expected peak bloom date, after which the pink and white flowers remain on the trees for anywhere from 4-5 days to 2 weeks, depending on temperature, wind, and rain.
The Philadelphia area is home to numerous attractions, landmarks, parks, green spaces, botanical gardens and arboretums (and even a month-long festival) that offer the best spots to view the world-class, Instagram-worthy cherry blossoms in bloom.
Our friends at the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia provide a handy cherry blossom viewing map, hand-drawn by Japanese artist Hiro Sakaguchi, depicting the city’s cherry blossom groves.
But below we’ve listed some of the best places to see the flowers bloom in 2024 in Philadelphia and the countryside.
