Where to Find Cherry Blossoms in Canada: +12 Top Destinations
Is there anything finer than spring in Canada?! After the dull and grey winter, spring brings life in the form of flowers. And one of the best things to do in Canada in the spring is enjoy cherry blossom viewing! You don’t need to fly to Japan or Washington DC to find these stunning trees. There are many places across Canada to find cherry trees! Below you’ll find the top places to find cherry blossoms in Canada, from Vancouver to Ontario!
12 Top Places to See Cherry Blossoms in Canada
As the title suggests, I’ve rounded up the ultimate list of where to find cherry blossoms in Canada. Each site has its own wonders and reasons for visiting. So, if you’re looking for magical places across Canada to transport you into a fairy tale or make you feel like you’re in a different country, this list is for you!
Cherry Blossoms in Ontario
You’ll find plenty of places in Ontario for cherry blossoming viewing! Many of the major cities, like Toronto and Ottawa, have numerous areas to find these brilliant blooms! Plus, there are a few hidden gem destinations where you can spot cherry blossoms in Ontario. This list of Ontario cherry blossom locations includes the top spots and a few alternatives.
High Park in Toronto
One of the most popular places to find cherry blossoms in Canada is High Park in Toronto! In the heart of downtown, High Park covers 400 acres and is noted as one of the best parks and gardens in Toronto. The park is home to a variety of walking trails, gardens, sport facilities, and more.
Unlike many city parks, High Park has both groomed areas as well as a large portion left in its natural state. There are ravines, small ponds, and wildlife. It’s also home to one of the few rare oak savannah habitats in Ontario.
The High Park cherry blossom season is a wonderful time to visit Toronto! You can find the majority of the cherry trees along the western side of Grenadier Pond. In 1959, 2000 Sakura trees were gifted to the people of Toronto from the citizens of Tokyo, Japan, some of which are in High Park. However, many more have been planted. Between 2017 and 2018, fifty more trees were planted.
The cherry blossoms in High Park bloom from late April through to the middle of May.
High Park can be accessed via public transit or on foot. It’s located from Bloor Street south and west of Parkside Drive. There is no vehicle access to the park during the peak bloom. But there is a subway stop, High Park, at the northern entrance to the park. Just follow the signs! You’ll find signs up in the subway and into the park on where to go to find the trees.
If you’d like to see the progress of the High Park cherry blossoms from home, you’re in luck! The High Park Nature Centre has a blossom watch, you can see it here.
By Me!
Trinity Bellwoods Park in Toronto
Another great spot to find cherry blossoms in Toronto is at Trinity Bellwoods Park. This small, 36-acre, park is the quintessential downtown green space. Running along Queen Street, Trinity is a popular hangout for locals. In the spring and summer, you’ll find many people picnicking on the grounds or playing with their pups.
The sidewalk that runs parallel to Queen Street through the park is lined with young cherry blossom trees. Here, you’ll find one of the best photo spots in Toronto! With a perfect line of cherry blossom trees lining the sidewalk and the CN Tower in the distance, Trinity Bellwoods makes for the perfect cherry blossom photo-op.
Trinity Bellwoods Park cherry blossoms bloom from late April to the middle of May, depending on weather.
By Me!
Are you torn between which top Canadian city to visit for cherry blossom season? In my travel guide Montreal vs Toronto I’ll dive into which city is the best to visit.
Centennial Park
If you’re looking for more places to find cherry blossom in Ontario, Centennial Park is a great alternative in the GTA! This park opened in 1967 to celebrate the 100th birthday of Canada! This park is located in Etobicoke and covers over 500 acres.
The park has a host of things to do, including disc golf, a BMX bike area, and more! It’s also home to a conservatory! Here, you’ll find 200 different varieties of tropical plants that bloom all year long. Plus, Centennial Park is one of the best places to find cherry blossoms in Ontario!
With over 400 trees, Centennial Park is home to the second biggest cherry tree collection after High Park! The cherry trees in Centennial Park can be found in various areas of the park, including the northeast of the Conservatory and near Centennial Park Boulevard and Rathburn Road.
Like other Ontario cherry blossoms, the trees in Centennial Park bloom between late April to the middle of May.
You can access the park via public transportation or by car. There is free parking in the park.
By Me!
Kariya Park in Mississauga
Just across the street from the largest mall in Ontario, you’ll find Kariya Park. It’s easily the most tranquil spot in the growing city centre of Mississauga. Plus, it’s the best place to find cherry blossom trees in Mississauga.
Mississauga and the city of Kariya are twinned cities. In 1992 Kariya Park was opened to honour that relationship and a few years later Mississauga Park was opened in Kariya. The Japanese park features a miniature replica of Mississauga’s iconic city hall as well as a few sculptures that represent Canada.
Inside Kariya Park visitors will find a pavilion with a bronze friendship bell in the middle. The bell itself was cast in Japan and is a symbol of the friendship between the two cities. The pavilion sits on the edge of a pond that’s filled with ducks, swans and turtles. During springtime visitors to the park can sit and enjoy the view of little ducklings and turtles swimming with their parents.
Visitors in search of cherry blossom trees in Ontario that are in bloom can find many here. However, the real show is inside the park. Around the pond the trees provide the perfect opportunity for photographers who can often get shots with the trees being reflected off the water. There are also a number of trees lining the pathways.
Visitors who decide to visit Kariya Park should remember that it’s a small park so it can get pretty crowded. Going very early in the day or during the week are the best times. There are other spots within the GTA where one can enjoy the beauty of the cherry blossom trees but Kariya Park is the only one that will make you feel like you’re actually in Japan.
By Davindra of Goat Roti Chronicles
Burlington
One of the most picturesque locations to see cherry blossoms in Burlington is at Spencer Smith Park. Many years ago, as part of their “twin city” relationship with Itabashi, Japan, they gifted the City of Burlington 50 Sakura (cherry) trees and a quaint limestone walkway.
The cherry blossom is the unofficial national flower of Japan and one of the most popular flowering trees in Japan. Residents and tourists make their way to Spencer Smith Park along Lake Ontario’s waterfront in April and early May. Here you can stroll through the floral pathway, in what looks like a delicate pink tunnel. Parking is available all through the area, and it’s right on the main transit lines, making it quite accessible.
Wondering where else you can see these beautiful pink blooms while in Burlington? You can also find cherry blossom trees along Itabashi Way, a neighbourhood that is also home to impressive residential gardens. Plus, you can find cherry blossoms at Royal Botanical Gardens, at both the Arboretum and Rock Garden sites.
By Amber of Active Parents
Dominion Arboretum in Ottawa
The Arboretum in Ottawa is one of the best places you can find cherry blossoms in Canada.
Spring in Ottawa means flowers, with the arrival of the Canadian Tulip Festival and the blossoming trees across the city. But none are better than the pink cherry trees on Prince of Wales Drive at the Arboretum.
Although you can find many trees throughout the park and its ornamental gardens, this street is the best area to take photos with dozens of cherry blossom trees in Ottawa.
There isn’t a lot of information on these trees available to the public. In fact, there are rumors as to how they first came to be. Were they a gift from the Japanese government like the city’s annual tulip haul? Or were they planted as a themed area of the ornamental gardens?
The best time to visit is in late April, or in colder years early May.
The Dominion is located south of Little Italy beside Dow’s Lake. It can easily be reached by public transport from downtown Ottawa by bus. Otherwise, you can drive. But there is very limited free parking.
Arrive early in the day to avoid the crowds of blossom peepers who could ruin your Instagram-perfect shot!
By Nina from Ottawa Things to do
Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens
Niagara Falls is certainly famous for its beautiful waterfalls but you may not realize that it’s also a great spot for cherry blossoms! While there are a number of places to spot these blooms in Niagara, the best place to see them is the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens.
Established in 1936, the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens feature azaleas, perennials, rhododendrons and more across its 99 acres of land. The gardens are one of the best places to find flowers in Ontario! It’s even home to a world-famous rose garden – but we’re here for the cherry trees!
Upon entering the gardens, follow the path to your right where you’ll find a cluster of vast cherry trees towering over you with their beautiful blooms. As you walk through the botanical garden, keep an eye for tags around the trees which will tell you what variety of cherry tree it is! If you visit on a day with some wind, you’ll feel like a princess as the petals fall down around you. Bring a book or a picnic and soak up the beauty of these flowers – they only last a couple weeks!
The best time to visit is late April to early May as that’s typically when the flowers are in peak bloom.
The Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens can be accessed by the WEGO green line which runs all year round or by car. If you’re looking to spend an afternoon enjoying the area, the Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory is in the heart of the gardens and is the perfect activity to enjoy after you’ve admired the beauty of the cherry blossoms.
By Lindsay of I’ve Been Bit! Travel Blog
Cherry Blossoms in British Columbia
The true winner as a destination for cherry blossoms in Canada is British Columbia! Here, you’ll find the earliest blossoming trees and the most abundant number of them. It all began in the early 1930s. It was at this time that hundreds of cherry trees were given to that the Japanese Canadians who served in World War I. A few top places to see British Columbia cherry blossoms are at the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival, as well as in Queen Elizabeth Park and Stanley Park.
Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival
Vancouver, British Columbia’s cherry blossom season is among the most spectacular in Canada, if not the world. So, planning a British Columbia Road Trip in the spring is a must!
Vancouver’s original 500 flowering cherry trees, a gift from Japan in the 1930s, have literally bloomed to more than 40,000 trees. They thrive thanks to the mild winters of Vancouver’s temperate coastal climate.
Similar to cherry blossom fans across the Pacific, cherry blossom season in Vancouver has been embraced by Vancouverites, who look forward to the beauty of their own ‘Sakura’ season each spring.
Some species of cherry trees bloom earlier than others, which is wonderful for an extended spring season in the city. The best part for blossom fans is that you don’t need to know which type a cherry tree is, an Akebono or a Kanzan variety. All you must do is simply enjoy the beauty of cherry blossoms in all of the white, pink and red glory.
Taking a page from Japan’s ‘Sakura’ festivals, Vancouver has its own version. The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival began in 2006. This month-long celebration of all things cherry blossom, includes experiences in culinary, poetry and bike the blossoms events. The festival takes place in the month of April. They also publish a map of the blooming trees throughout the city and Metro Vancouver.
One of the earliest displays of cherry blossoms in Vancouver is in Stanley Park. Adjacent to the Park’s scenic Lost Lagoon in the West End neighborhood in the downtown peninsula, the pink and white blooms can flower as early as February but are at their peak in March. This is an excellent location to capture photographs, particularly around golden hour before sunset.
Stanley Park is easily accessed by public transit or walking in the downtown core.
By Claudia Laroye of Claudia Travels
David Lam Park in Vancouver
You really can’t go wrong when exploring Vancouver during the cherry blossom and spring season, as the entire city explodes in colour. But, one of the best spots to enjoy spring blooms in Vancouver is David Lam Park.
The park has nearly 100 Akebono cherry trees that Vancouver’s Dr. Lam donated. These trees breathe new life into the park after a long winter. As of 2022, the park is the new location for ‘The Big Picnic’, which kicks off Vancouver’s Cherry Blossom Festival. The Picnic is usually within the first few days of April. It is an opportunity to enjoy food and entertainment while learning about First Nations and Japanese culture underneath the vibrant cherry trees.
If you can’t make the picnic, the best time to see the cherry blossoms at their fullest is the last week of March and the first week of April before they fade away. The park is nestled between Vancouver’s iconic skyline and the False Creek waterway so that you can enjoy an urban or harbor backdrop to the full cherry blossom trees.
For that stereotypical Canadian image, spring is also when the Canadian geese are wandering around the park. If you continue walking along the False Creek Seawall from the park, you’ll see plenty more blossoms.
The park is easily accessible by foot, the Yaletown Skytrain stop, or the David Lam Aquabus stop.
By Susanna of Curiosity Saves Travel
Chilliwack, British Columbia
In the approximately 100 years since Japan gifted Vancouver Canada’s first cherry blossom trees, thousands more have been planted. You can find them throughout the Lower Mainland region, which includes all of Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. One of the best places to see cherry blossom is in Chilliwack! The city is roughly 100 kilometres east of Vancouver (though some consider it part of Greater Vancouver).
What makes Chilliwack stand out as a cherry blossom destination is that it is very easy to access. Within a few minutes’ drive off the Trans-Canada highway, you can park your car and stroll beneath a sea of pink blossoms.
You’ll see them in various locations as you drive into town. But the best spots are at Central Community Park and Townsend Park. The former is located at the historic heart of the city, including the recently revitalized District 1881. Conveniently, there’s ample parking right next to the park’s dozen or so cherry trees. The latter is a much larger, sports-oriented park, where you could hold a game of baseball right next to a picturesque row of Sakura trees.
To see Chilliwack’s cherry blossom trees in bloom, you’ll need to come in the last week of March or first few weeks of April.
By Nick Kembel of Spiritual Travels
Butchart Gardens in Victoria
With the arrival of Spring, Canadians look forward to “Sakura” or cherry blossom season! And if you happen to be visiting Victoria, BC, then you are in for a real treat! Victoria has some of the mildest climates in Canada, which means the city enjoys one of the longest and most incredible blooming seasons in the country.
As crazy as it sounds, the first cherry trees in Victoria start to bloom as early as mid-February, months before the rest of the country. And with a ton of cherry and plum trees throughout the city, Victoria becomes enveloped in a sea of pink and white petals.
Thousands of people flock to Victoria every year during late March, which is usually the peak of the blooming season. And although there are a ton of places in downtown Victoria to enjoy the blooms, the most iconic place to see the cherry blossoms is in Butchart Gardens.
500 incredible cherry trees were imported from Yokohama Japan in 1936, by the Butchart family. 400 trees were planted on Benvenuto Avenue, which is the road leading up to the Gardens. The remaining 100 trees were planted inside the Gardens, in both the Japanese Garden and the Sunken Garden.
The cherry blossom canopies range in colour from white to yellowish-green and baby pink. The blossoms only last for a short period of time; usually less than two weeks. So, if seeing the trees in full bloom is on your bucket list, you’ll need to plan your visit carefully.
The Butchart Gardens are located approximately 30 minutes from Victoria’s Inner Harbour.
By Marianne of The Journeying Giordanos
Cherry Blossoms in Alberta
This will surprise many, but you can find cherry blossom trees in Alberta! And the capital city, Edmonton, is a place to take in these incredible trees!
Edmonton, Alberta
As the most northerly city with a population above 1 million in Canada, you would never imagine to see cherry blossoms in Edmonton, Alberta. In fact, few Edmontonians are even aware that it is now possible to go cherry blossom viewing in Edmonton.
In the last few years, as word has gotten out, George F Hustler Memorial Plaza has become the go-to place to see cherry blossoms in Edmonton. The plaza is in Cloverdale community on the south side of the North Saskatchewan River Valley and is named after a former active member of the community.
The park features around a dozen cherry blossom trees of a darker pink variety and a walking path that passes right below some of them. Only five minutes away on foot is Edmonton River Valley’s iconic landmark, the Muttart Conservatory. It consists of four large glass pyramids that contain the city’s most impressive botanical garden.
The soon to be opened Muttart Stop on the LRT Valley Line will provide public transportation to the plaza and conservatory.
One thing to know about seeing cherry blossoms in Edmonton is that the blooming season comes quite a bit later than elsewhere in Canada, due to the northern latitude. Typically, blooming takes place from mid- to late-May.
By Nick Kembel of FunWorldFacts
More Places to See Cherry Blossom Trees in Canada
Montreal
If you’re looking for where to see blossoming trees in Quebec visit Montreal! Trees generally start to bloom in May on crabapple, magnolia and cherry trees.
The best places to see blooming trees in Montreal are the Montreal Botanical Garden as well as Mount Royal Cemetery and Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery. For cherry blossom trees visit Westmount Park and Parc Ahuntsic.
Calgary
You’ll find a number of cherry blossoms in Calgary within the downtown area. A few popular spots include Prince’s Island Park and Baker Park. But another great place to see cherry blossom trees in the city is Murdoch Park in the Bridgeland neighbourhood.
Saskatoon
In the heart of the Prairies there are a few great places to see cherry blossoms in Saskatoon. Some include Regina Floral Conservatory and Kiwanis Memorial Park. A hidden gem for enjoy the spring blooms is Boffins Pubic Gardens on the University of Saskatchewan campus.
Just outside Saskatoon is a sour cherry farm, Prairie Cherry Pit. In the spring, it’s a wonderful place to visit to soak in the brilliant white blossoms.
Winnipeg
Assiniboine Park is the best place in Winnipeg to see cherry blossom trees. They have a select grove that is spectacular in the spring.
Nova Scotia
If you’re wondering, ‘are there any cherry blossom trees on the East Coast of Canada,’ yes there are! In the city of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia there’s a sprawling green space that comes alive in May. Over 30 cherry trees line downtown’s Park Avenue.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cherry Blossoms in Canada
When planning your road trip to find cherry blossom trees in Canada you will need to know a few things first. Below you’ll find frequently asked questions about cherry blossom blooms in Canada.
Are there cherry blossoms in Canada? – Yes, there are many locations across Canada to find these pretty pink trees.
Where can I see cherry blossoms in Canada? – A few of the top places to see these blossoming trees in Ontario are High Park, Trinity Bellwoods Park, Royal Botanical Gardens, Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens, and The Arboretum. In BC you can find them across Vancouver, in Victoria, and Butchart Gardens.
When do cherry blossoms bloom in Canada? – Most cherry trees bloom mid to late April and into early May. However, in Vancouver they can bloom much earlier. And in Edmonton, the trees will bloom more into May.
How long does cherry blossom last in Canada? – Generally, cherry blossoms last for a week. Depending on weather, they could last anywhere from 4 days to 2 weeks. However, peak bloom only lasts a few days.
More Places to Find Blooms & Flowers
Can’t get enough beautiful blooms in Canada? Below you’ll find more places to find flowers in Ontario, from flower festivals to pick your own flowers. Whether you’ll looking for things to do in Canada in the spring or fun things to do in Ontario in the summer, these places will tick all the boxes!
Ontario Lavender Farms
Sunflower Fields in Ontario
Amazing Places to Find Flowers in Ontario
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