The blooming of the cherry trees around the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C. has come to symbolize the natural beauty of our nation's capital city. The famous trees, a gift from Japan in 1912, signal Washington’s rite of spring with an explosion of life and color that surrounds the Tidal Basin in a sea of pale pink and white blossoms. Thousands of city residents and visitors from across the nation and around the world come here to witness the spectacle, hoping that the trees will be at the peak of bloom for the Cherry Blossom Festival.
2010 Bloom Watch
Average Peak Bloom Date: April 4
2010 Peak Bloom Date: March 31
2010 Blooming Period: March 27 - ?*
Exactly when the buds will open is not an easy question to answer. It is pretty much impossible to give an accurate forecast much more than 10 days before the peak bloom. National Park Service Horticulturists monitor 5 distinct stages of bud development and provide forecasts and updates as needed.
The Peak Bloom Date is defined as the day in which 70 percent of the blossoms of the Yoshino Cherry (Prunus x yedoensis) trees that surround the Tidal Basin are open. The date when the Yoshino cherry blossoms reach peak bloom varies from year to year, depending on weather conditions. Cherry Blossom Festival dates are set based on the average date of blooming (April 4), but nature is not always cooperative. Unseasonably warm and/or cool temperatures have resulted in the Yoshino cherries reaching peak bloom as early as March 15 (1990) and as late as April 18 (1958).
The Blooming Period is defined as a period that starts when 20 percent of the blossoms are open and ends when the petals fall and the leaves appear. * The blooming period starts several days before the peak bloom date and can last as long as 14 days; however, frost or high temperatures combined with wind and/or rain can shorten this period. During the blooming period, the National Park Service conducts annual Cherry Tree walks and bike tours around the Tidal Basin. These park ranger conducted programs present an interpretive look at the historical and cultural influence of the Japanese Flowering Cherry Trees in our Nation's Capital.
The following is a comparative record of past bud development in which 70 percent of the buds reached each stage:
| BUD STAGE 1
Green Color in Buds: Mid to late February – Early March |
| BUD STAGE 2
Florets Visible: Early to Mid March, Av. 16-21 days to Peak Bloom |
| BUD STAGE 3
Extension of Florets: Av. 12-17 days to Peak Bloom |
| BUD STAGE 4
Peduncle Elongation: Av. 5-10 days to Peak Bloom (Frost Critical) |
| BUD STAGE 5
Puffy White: Av. 4-6 days to Peak Bloom |
Information current as of
COMPARATIVE RECORD OF PAST BUD DEVELOPMENT:
1992 - PRESENT
| Year | Green Color In Buds | Florets Visible | Extension of Florets | Peduncle Elongation | Puffy White | Peak Bloom | | | | | | | | | | 2010 | 3/14 | 3/19 | 3/21 | 3/23 | 3/26 | 3/31 | | 2009 | 3/8 | 3/12 | 3/18 | 3/23 | 3/27 | 4/1 | | 2008 | 2/19 | 3/11 | 3/17 | 3/19 | 3/24 | 3/29 | | 2007 | 3/5 | 3/20 | 3/25 | 3/27 | 3/28 | 4/1 | | 2006 | 2/28 | 3/13 | 3/14 | 3/16 | 3/22 | 3/30 | | 2005 | 3/7 | 3/22 | 3/31 | 4/3 | 4/4 | 4/9 | | 2004 | 3/4 | 3/12 | 3/15 | 3/22 | 3/27 | 3/31 | | 2003 | 3/17 | 3/23 | 3/25 | 3/27 | 3/29 | 4/2 | | 2002 | 3/7 | 3/14 | 3/18 | 3/20 | 3/27 | 4/2 | | 2001 | 2/26 | 3/11 | 3/20 | 3/25 | 3/30 | 4/6 | | 2000 | 2/29 | 3/8 | 3/9 | 3/10 | 3/14 | 3/17 | | 1999 | 3/16 | 3/22 | 3/26 | 3/30 | 4/1 | 4/5 | | 1998 | 2/13 | 3/1 | 3/8 | 3/10 | 3/23 | 3/27 | | 1997 | 2/21 | 3/2 | 3/10 | 3/13 | 3/20 | 3/26 | | 1996 | 2/29 | 3/15 | 3/18 | 3/25 | 3/30 | 4/4 | | 1995 | 3/8 | 3/17 | 3/20 | 3/22 | 3/27 | 4/2 | | 1994 | 3/8 | 3/20 | 3/25 | 3/29 | 4/1 | 4/5 | | 1993 | 3/15 | 3/22 | 3/28 | 4/2 | 4/5 | 4/11 | | 1992 | 3/7 | 3/15 | 3/23 | 3/31 | 4/1 | 4/5 |
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