A sure sign spring has sprung in Philadelphia is the blossoming of thousands of cultivated cherry trees across the city, throughout parks, in gardens, down streets and by waterways.
The magnificent blooms add explosions of pink, white and purple to already-picturesque skyline vistas, trail views and shimmering riverfronts.
Come spring, residents and visitors alike enjoy peaceful ohanami (Japanese flower-viewing picnics) and view some of the most stunning sakura (the Japanese term for flowering cherry trees) in the nation.
But don’t take our word for it. Publications like Lonely Planet, Time Out, Afar and Country Living rank Philadelphia among the best places in the nation to enjoy the cherry blossom bloom in 2024.
Predicted Peak Bloom Dates for 2024
At the end of February, the National Park Service issued its blooming predictions for the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC. According to Vince Marrocco, Director of Horticulture at Chestnut Hill’s Morris Arboretum & Gardens, Philadelphia’s cherry trees typically bloom a week to 10 days after Washington’s and based on the NPS forecast, cherry blooms in Philly should peak between March 30 and April 2, 2024. “With all the warm weather we’ve had and are predicted to have, that’s super early,” states Marrocco.
So for how long are the blossoms viewable? Generally, cherry trees begin to blossom several days before predicted peak bloom dates. Then the pink and white flowers can remain on the trees for as little as four to five days to as long as two weeks after bloom, depending on temperature, wind and rain.
There are a slew of attractions, sites, parks, green spaces, botanic gardens and arboreta (and even a month-long festival) in the Philly region that offer premier spots for viewing the world-class, Instagram-ready cherry tree blooms.
Our friends at the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia offer this convenient Cherry Blossom Viewing Map, hand-painted by Japanese artist Hiro Sakaguchi, of cherry tree groves across the city.
But below we’ve called out some of the best places for you to check out the blossoms and blooms in Philadelphia and the Countryside for 2024.
