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There’s no better place to experience spring than DC, which overflows with colorful blooms throughout March, April and May. Take your pick and plan your visit around the season’s best blossoms.
The District’s classic cherry blossoms have been celebrated for over a century, but don’t fret if you miss peak bloom. The city has a full lineup of photogenic flora throughout the spring months – from striking pink saucer magnolias to stunning purple wisteria – that makes any trip magical. Read on for information on the flowers, when they bloom and where to find them.
When can I see the blossoms?
Blooming windows can never be perfectly predicted and are only forecast up to 10 days in advance. In the months leading up to peak bloom, weather and temperature patterns heavily influence the timing and duration for each plant variety. Because of this fluctuation, every springtime visit is unique but always filled with bright colors and floral aromas.
Where can I find the blooms?
For three years in a row, the city’s park system has been ranked best in the U.S. by the Trust for Public Land, so there are parks and blossoming flora in just about every ward of Washington, DC. A few safe bets for springtime blooms are the U.S. National Arboretum, the National Mall, the U.S. Botanic Garden and Dumbarton Oaks. We’ve listed some top locations for flower-finding, but even outside of the popular spots, it’s easy to stumble upon flowering greenery scattered throughout the city. In most cases, you can get up close and personal for free.
Tip: Some of the best flower viewing is off-peak!
Pre- and post-bloom periods provide beautiful scenery and thinner (or no) crowds, with fresh bulbs ready to pop or cobblestones painted pink or white with petals.
For even more information, check out resources from the National Park Service and the U.S. National Arboretum.
Approximate bloom: Early to mid-March
About: One of the first signs of spring in DC is the appearance of magnolias in shades of pink, white and purple. Blossoming a couple of weeks before their more famous cousins, these trees have an extra-long bloom window and can be found all over the District. One fan-favorite destination is the Enid A. Haupt Garden behind the Smithsonian Castle on the National Mall. The picture-perfect blooms are also scattered closer to the Jefferson Memorial and along residential streets.
Fun fact: While magnolias are among the oldest flowering plants on record, the hybrid blooms you see today were developed in 1820 by a retired French cavalry officer from Napoleon’s army.
Where to find them: The Smithsonian’s Enid A. Haupt Garden (pictured), Dumbarton Oaks, Rawlins Park, the Washington National Cathedral, Indiana Plaza, U.S. National Arboretum, Oak Hill Cemetery, Hillwood Estate
Approximate bloom: Late March
About: In a typical year, DC’s beloved cherry blossoms tend to bloom in the last weeks of March and extend into early April. In recent decades, the timing has trended earlier, but experts always share their estimations 10 days before peak bloom. While cherry blossoms are beloved for their shade of pastel pink, this variety is also common in shades of white and lighter pink, always in single clusters. These make up the majority of the cherry blossoms in the District.
Yoshino blossoms were first noted in Tokyo around 1872, and arrived in Washington, DC in 1912 as a part of the gift of friendship between the U.S. and the People of Japan. For more info and insider tips, read our full guide to the cherry blossoms.
Quintessential places to find them: the National Mall, the Tidal Basin, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, the Japanese Lantern
Local favorites: the Washington National Cathedral, the Cleveland Park neighborhood (Upper Northwest DC), the U.S. Congressional Cemetery (pictured), the U.S. National Arboretum
Approximate bloom: One-to-three weeks after the Yoshino blossoms
About: Named after a mountain in Japan, Kwanzan cherry blossoms also arrived in the District in 1912 with over a dozen other varieties. Despite making up only 13% of the total cherry blossoms, they are the second most common variety. Their double clusters of gradient-pink flowers, heavier and denser than the Yoshino flowers, make for a distinctly fluffy look.
Where to find them: East Potomac Park, Hains Point, U.S. National Arboretum, Dumbarton Oaks, U.S. Capitol grounds
Approximate bloom: Early April
About: While the cherry blossoms are a tough act to follow, the District’s tulips never disappoint, flaunting bright hues of yellows, reds, oranges, purples and more. A warm spring will bring them out early, and with such a wide catalog of tulips types in the region, you can catch them for several weeks after the first ones appear.
The National Mall’s Floral Library, established in 1969 as part of "Lady Bird" Johnson’s Capital Beautification Project, is known for its 93 beds of meticulously cared-for tulips, the Netherlands Carillon provides an incredible view of the Mall from across the river and the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America, another hidden gem in the District, provides free tours of their impeccable gardens on Saturdays, April through Sept.
Where to see them: The National Mall’s Floral Library, the U.S. Capitol grounds (main plaza), the Smithsonian’s Enid A. Haupt Garden, West Potomac Park and the Netherlands Carillon (pictured), the Franciscan Monastery
Hillwood Estate
Approximate bloom: Mid-to-late April
About: Among the most vibrant spring blooms are the azaleas, which appear in shades ranging from whites and light purples to flaming reds and hot pinks. The U.S. National Arboretum shines as a top destination for azalea viewing, where you can explore crisscrossing trails on foot, surrounded by patches of rich colors. Head up to the Mount Hamilton overlook for a breathtaking view of the U.S. Capitol building.
Where to find them: U.S. National Arboretum, Tudor Place, U.S. Capitol grounds, U.S. Botanic Garden, Hillwood Estate (pictured), the Franciscan Monastery
Approximate bloom: Late April – early May
About: The delicate purple tendrils of wisteria vines are among the most photogenic of Washington, DC’s cast of flowers, transporting visitors to a Victorian garden à la Bridgerton. The spindly plants can be found growing along fences at Dumbarton Oaks, climbing up the sides of the National Cathedral or adorning homes in Georgetown, showcasing not only beautiful color but accenting historic sights and architecture.
Where to find them: Dumbarton Oaks, U.S. Botanic Garden, U.S. Capitol (east side), National Bonsai & Penjing Museum at the U.S. National Arboretum, National Cathedral (pictured), National Gallery of Art’s West Building, Georgetown neighborhood
Approximate bloom: Mid-April to early June
About: After most of the cherry blossoms have fallen, the white (sometimes light pink), four-petaled flower clusters of the dogwood trees appear – another beloved District staple. At the U.S. National Arboretum, the first bright blooms of the dogwood collection can be found in March with the yellow flowers of the cornelian-cherry. From there, native dogwood blooms arrive in April, with certain species like the Chinese dogwoods opening into early June in a typical year.
Fun fact: Meant to symbolize durability and reliability, dogwood is both the state tree and state flower of Virginia.
Where to find them: Rock Creek Park, U.S. National Arboretum, Georgetown neighborhood, U.S. Capitol grounds
Washington, DC is proud of its flower power, so throughout the spring, the city celebrates the beauty and wonder of its blooms with a popular lineup of events. The National Cherry Blossom Festival (March 20 – April 13, 2025) dazzles with special activations and events – including a parade exploding with pink. The first weekend of May, DC’s annual Flower Mart, which takes place on the grounds of the astounding National Cathedral, draws floral fanatics to the city’s Upper Northwest.
The U.S. Botanic Garden hosts seasonal flower exhibitions all year long, and locations like the Hillwood Estate, Dumbarton Oaks and the Capitol grounds rotate their floral plots seamlessly from season to season. Rock Creek Park – all 1,754 acres of footpaths, biking trails and green space, right in the middle of the District – is another spot ripe for exploring nature’s flora.
