Feb 27, 2025 - News

D.C.'s cherry blossoms will hit peak bloom in late March

Mimi Montgomery

A photo of cherry blossoms in bloom at Washington, D.C.'s tidal basin, with the Washington Monument in the background. — Cherry blossoms in bloom last year at the Tidal Basin. Photo: PEDRO UGARTE/AFP via Getty Images

D.C.'s cherry blossoms will hit peak bloom March 28-31 this year, the National Park Service (NPS) announced Thursday.

Why it matters: Come next month, the Tidal Basin will be packed with blossom lovers vying to snag content of the flowering trees — plan your peak bloom trips accordingly.

State of play: The National Cherry Blossom Festival will run March 20-April 13.

The intrigue: This year's peak comes later than last year's, March 17 — which tied for D.C.'s second-earliest peak bloom on record following some warm final days of winter.

D.C. has seen a string of especially cold and snowy weather this winter, but March is expected to be warmer than usual.

Between the lines: Peak bloom occurs when 70% of the Tidal Basin's Yoshino cherry blossoms have opened, according to the NPS.

The trees usually bloom for seven days.

Add Axios on Google

D.C.'s cherry blossoms will hit peak bloom in late March

More Washington D.C. stories