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Cherry blossoms are a Philly spring staple. The colorful, Japanese trees have already started showing off their vibrant blooms.
The exact timing of when trees in different parts of the city will bloom depends, said Sandi Polyakov, the Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center garden curator.
“Something that’s blooming here might actually be blooming five days earlier downtown, around buildings, and kind of those sort of microclimate areas that are warmer,” he said. “So it’s difficult, and actually kind of a little disingenuous to give it an exact sort of bloom time.”
Polyakov explained that there are also different species of cherry blossoms throughout the city. He said the most plentiful Yoshino cherry trees may still take some time to flower.
“Those are probably not going to be blooming for another week and a half, but we’re already starting to get some of the earlier blooming varieties downtown blooming now,” he said.
And this year is special – the Shofuso Japanese Center is using the 250th anniversary to plant more cherry trees around the city.
“This past year or so, we embarked on a pretty large and ambitious project to plant 250 new cherry trees around the city of Philadelphia,” he said.
This year also marks 100 years since the Japanese government gifted Philadelphia 1,600 trees to plant. Some of the original trees planted around that time are still here, Polyakov said.
But, since 1998, the city has been trying to revitalize the trees and push for more planting.
“We planted about 1,000 trees from 1998 to about 2008, and we wanted to restart that kind of ‘cherry tree initiative,’ because trees are living things,” he said. “They live a long life if they’re lucky.”
The goal is to plant a total of 1,600 trees over the next few years, to honor the original contributions of the Japanese government.
In this year’s bloom, Polyakov said he expects most trees to be unaffected by past winter weather.
“We seem to be on track for the buds being completely healthy,” he said. “They’re still in the earlier stages, so those frosts that are coming up are not going to affect them at all.”
To view cherry trees, Polyakov said that there are a few main spots – including the Mann Center and the Horticulture Center in Fairmount Park.
“So it crosses along the Schuylkill River Trail on both sides, or on Kelly Drive and on Martin Luther King Drive,” he said. “There are also going to be smaller groupings of five trees here, maybe ten trees somewhere else around the city,” he said.
There are plenty of other places you can view cherry blossoms throughout the city this season – including the annual cherry blossom festival.
We put together a guide.
Cherry Blossom Festival
The Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center will host this year’s Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival of Philadelphia on March 28-29 – which will feature lots of opportunities to take the perfect shot of one of the blooms.
The event allows Philadelphians to enjoy Japanese art and culture, entertainment, food and drink in the company of the flowering trees.
The festival has grown massively since its start in 1998, said Kazumi Teune, the executive director of the Japan American Society of Greater Philadelphia, an organization focusing on connecting Philadelphia with Japan.
“The Cherry Blossom Festival started from 30-40 people to now 25,000 for two days,” she said. “When I was there [when it began] in 1998, I never thought it could come to this point.”
She said the event has been able to host many different types of performances and presentations over the years.
“The participants are getting younger, especially the performers,” she said. “We used to invite traditional, authentic dancers here. However, we added locally famous groups like dancers and even tea ceremony performers, who are now locally raised. We also have karaoke and other martial arts demonstrations here.”
She explained this event is a great way for Philadelphians to kick off the warm weather and spring season.
You can learn more and buy tickets on their website.
Other main viewing spots
Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center
The Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center celebrates Japanese culture – with exhibits like a koi pond, tea house and courtyard garden. Outside of the Cherry Blossom Festival, you can visit the attraction to see the flowering trees on the premises and learn more about their history.
The museum is open Wednesday-Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can get your tickets and learn more online.
Please Touch Museum
Get some playtime in and enjoy the beauty of cherry blossom trees inside Fairmount Park at the Please Touch Museum.
The area behind the museum tends to host the vibrant, pink blossom trees. Take a look for yourself during your next visit.
Belmont Plateau
Also in Fairmount Park at Philly’s “most scenic overlook,” you can get a nice view of the city’s cherry blossoms. The area, known for hosting everything from bike and cross-country races to Philadelphians looking to picnic, offers a nice view of the city, and its trees.
The area is open from sunrise to sunset.
Drexel Square Park
Located right next to 30th Street Station and local universities, Drexel Square Park is a great park to pass through and get a good look at cherry blossom trees. Pass through before your next Amtrak trip or visit to West Philly to experience the blooms.
Kelly Drive & Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Trail
Located in West Fairmount Park, the Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Trail is a 4.3-mile journey that is covered in cherry blossoms. The two-mile path from Montgomery Drive to Falls Bridge offers an up-close and personal view of the trees. You can run, walk or bike down the trail to explore the beauty.
On the opposite side of the river, Kelly Drive provides another beautiful view of cherry blossom trees on the Schuylkill River Trail. Walk, bike, or even drive down the street adjacent to the trail to get a good look at the trees as they bloom over the next few weeks.
Philadelphia Museum of Art
If you’re feeling artsy, kill two birds with one stone with a visit to Philadelphia’s iconic art museum and some subsequent cherry blossom viewing. The museum’s backyard is home to many flowering trees during peak season – and you may even be able to catch some around the iconic steps as well.
Plan your visit to the museum here or plan your trip to its backyard.
Washington Square
If you’re visiting the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall or other iconic Philly monuments near Old City, Washington Square Park is a great resting point that also offers a view of cherry blossoms. The park has benches and green space and is quieter than some other parks in the area – providing a chill vibe for your cherry blossom spectating.
Delaware River Trail
If you live closer to the eastern side of the city, the Delaware River Trail also offers an up-close look at the blossoming cherry trees.
The trail, which runs parallel to Columbus Drive, will offer views of the colorful blooms everywhere from Penn’s Landing and Cherry Street Pier to Penn Treaty Park. Whether you’re walking, running, skipping or biking, the trail offers a great set of ways to enjoy views.
Rittenhouse Square
If you find yourself near Center City, Rittenhouse Square provides a grassy escape from the bustling city life – and a view of more cherry blossoms. Grab a bite at nearby spots on Chestnut or Walnut Street and have a picnic, do some shopping and stroll through the park, or just enjoy the view from one of the park’s benches as cherry blossoms continue to bloom over the next week!
Clark Park
As another iconic West Philly park, Clark Park offers a great spot for community gatherings and cherry blossom watching. Head over to relax on one of the benches or a spot on the lawn, grab coffee or food from nearby vendors or take your children to play on the playgrounds or at the gaga ball court – all while getting nice views of the cherry blossoms.
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