Blooming Now — Read the latest updates on cherry blossoms, including blooming dates, prime locations, and tips for capturing stunning photos. Follow our cherry scouts, as we share firsthand insights and ensures you never miss a moment of the blossoms’ beauty. Whether you’re planning a visit or simply admiring from afar, this page is your go-to resource for all things cherry blossoms.

Latest Updates

May 6, 2024. One more last hurrah – ‘Shiro-fugen’ flowers are looking even less fresh, giving the trees a dull pink look, but the flowers are still there, particularly in the cooler areas, and they are getting more interesting.

Shiro-fugen_StanleyPark-outsideMiniatureRR_Cutler_20240501_152134
Shiro-fugen_StanleyPark-outsideMiniatureRR_Cutler_20240501_152134

Much more rare ‘Kiku-zakura’ are doing the same, aging to pink, with second-story flowers developing from the centres.

Kiku-zakura_RobsonGilford_Cutler_20240501_141548
Kiku-zakura_RobsonGilford_Cutler_20240501_141548

You can find blossom photos with descriptions that were featured here at Blog – Yesterday’s news and more – Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival (vcbf.ca).

Scouts have shared their finds on our forums at VCBF Neighbourhood Blogs | UBC Botanical Garden Forums. You can search for cultivar locations on the festival map at Neighbourhood Maps (vcbf.ca).

You can find the new 2014 enlarged edition of the indispensable guide to Ornamental Cherries in Vancouver, written by Douglas Justice, Associate Director & Curator of Collections at UBC Botanical Garden. Purchase the full eBook version here on our Shop.


International Cherry Blossom Prediction Competition

Submissions are in from the international prediction competition, “When will the cherry trees bloom in 2024?”. The predicted date for ‘Akebono’ trees studied from Vancouver (Maple Grove Park in Kerrisdale) was April 3, just four days earlier than last year’s peak bloom. You can read about the predictions at https://competition.statistics.gmu.edu/.

The contestants were not aware that we would have a week of unseasonably warm weather in March, which has caused all our cherry trees to bloom early. The peak bloom for our contest trees has been announced as March 23, 2024. You can see photos of the blooming progression at Yesterday’s news – 2024 International Cherry Blossom Prediction Competition – Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival (vcbf.ca).

20240323-MapleGrovePk-Akebono123-Willard-
20240323-MapleGrovePk-Akebono123-Willard–1200×900

Festival Favourites

Some of our festival favourite photo-op locations were shown here during the bloom season with current year photos and the approximate blooming dates. Red markers on our festival map show all our favourite locations. ​​​​When we talk about Festival Favourites, we mean you will be happy you made the trip to see them to photograph them. When you’re there, remember the neighbours:

1) do not climb the trees
2) do not break the branches
3) be respectful of the residents who live on the street
4) do not stop in the middle of the street
5) keep your visit to a max of 15mins (cause really, how long does it take to snap a few photos?)
6) stay on city property, do not go on private property
7) try to stay off the grass, especially if you are wearing heels.
Mostly – be respectful to the environment and the residents. Remember that it is the residents who are responsible for caring for those trees.

Learn How to Take Cherry Blossom Photos with your phone thanks to Cakewalk Media for the tips!

Festival Favourites in Bloom

Below is a sampling of the festival favourite photo-op locations posted on our forums. You too can become a Cherry Scout and share photos with us – see Cherry Scouts – Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival (vcbf.ca).

Shiro-fugen_StanleyPark-outsideMiniatureRR_Cutler_20240501_152025
Shiro-fugen_StanleyPark-outsideMiniatureRR_Cutler_20240501_152025
West End – Stanley Park Neighbourhood
Blooming dates: Apr 15 to May 6
Shiro-fugen_200aStMichaudCre_maylin_20240429_IMG_8774
Shiro-fugen_200aStMichaudCre_maylin_20240429_IMG_8774
Langley City and Township Neighbourhood
Blooming dates: Apr 11 to Apr 30
Shiro-fugen_BurrardPacific_Cutler_20240423_164413
Shiro-fugen_BurrardPacific_Cutler_20240423_164413
West End /Stanley Park Neighbourhood
Blooming dates: Apr 11 to Apr 30
Shirofugen_Creekside1st_Yumi_20240415_IMG2490
Shirofugen_Creekside1st_Yumi_20240415_IMG2490
Fairview Neighbourhood
Blooming dates: Apr 11 to Apr 30

Festival Favourites no longer in bloom

Fraser_Cemetery_RichmondSt_NewWest_20240419_062310
Kanzan_FraserCemetery_RichmondSt_NewWest_JMcCarthy_20240419_062310
New Westminster Neighbourhood
Blooming dates: Apr 10 to Apr 25
20240419_Avium Plena_ KerrE45-47_Eng_0348
20240419_Avium Plena_ KerrE45-47_Eng_0348
Killarney Neighbourhood
Blooming dates: Apr 10 to Apr 25
Kanzan_TaylorWay-above-UpperLevels_DerekK_20240418_IMG_1590
Kanzan_TaylorWay-above-UpperLevels_DerekK_20240418_IMG_1590
West Vancouver Neighbourhood
Blooming dates: Apr 10 to Apr 25
Shiro-fugen_200aStMichaudCre_maylin_20240419_IMG_7172
Shiro-fugen_200aStMichaudCre_maylin_20240419_IMG_7172
Langley City and Township Neighbourhood
Blooming dates: Apr 11 to Apr 30
Shogetsu_20370-82Ave__JMcCarthy_20240418_211543
Shogetsu_20370-82Ave__JMcCarthy_20240418_211543
Langley City and Township Neighbourhood
Blooming dates: Apr 10 to Apr 30
Kanzan_RupertE18th_20240414_Shen_IMG2069
Kanzan_RupertE18th_20240414_Shen_IMG2069
Renfrew-Collingwood Neighbourhood
Blooming dates: Apr 10 to Apr 25
20240413_QEParkMidlothianEntrance_Ukon_Blumenthal_4876
20240413_QEParkMidlothianEntrance_Ukon_Blumenthal_4876
Riley Park Neighbourhood
Blooming Dates: Apr 1 to Apr 19
20240413_29thRoss_FFKanzan_Blumenthal_4865
20240413_29thRoss_FFKanzan_Blumenthal_4865
Kensington-Cedar Cottage Neighbourhood
Blooming Dates: Apr 10 to Apr 25
Shirotae_StanleyParkJapaneseMemorialAllee_GeorgiaStrait_20240411_IMG_2501
Shirotae_StanleyParkJapaneseMemorialAllee_GeorgiaStrait_20240411_IMG_2501
West End / Stanley Park Neighbourhood
Blooming dates: Apr 1 to Apr 17
20240409-Beatty Mews - Kanzan 15 - Yaletowner
20240409-Beatty Mews – Kanzan 15 – Yaletowner
Downtown Neighbourhood
Blooming dates: Apr 10 to Apr 25
Kanzan_KitsilanoPool_Yumi_20240409_IMG2464
Kanzan_KitsilanoPool_Yumi_20240409_IMG2464
Kitsilano Neighbourhood
Blooming dates: Apr 10 to Apr 25
20240407_Ukon_YewW43_Eng__0195
20240407_Ukon_YewW43_Eng__0195
Kerrisdale Neighbourhood
Blooming dates: Apr 1 to Apr 15
20240404_Ukon_E15Renfrew_Eng_0090
20240404_Ukon_E15Renfrew_Eng_0090
Renfrew-Collingwood Neighbourhood
Blooming dates: Apr 1 to Apr 15
Shirotae_ 56AveEastleighCre_maylin_20240405_IMG_5079
Shirotae_ 56AveEastleighCre_maylin_20240405_IMG_5079
Langley City and Township Neighbourhood
Blooming dates: Mar 24 to Mar 7
Akebono_RoseGarden_Cutler_20240330_124226
West End / Stanley Park Neighbourhood
Blooming dates: Mar 22 to Apr7
20240330_StGeorge30_Umineko_Blumenthal_4732
20240330_StGeorge30_Umineko_Blumenthal_4732
Riley Park Neighbourhood
Blooming dates: Mar 24 to Apr7
Akebono_Ron McLeanPark - HedleyPortland_TanisSawtell_20240326_1(55)
Akebono_Ron McLeanPark – HedleyPortland_TanisSawtell_20240326_1(55)
Burnaby Neighbourhood
Blooming dates: Mar 18 to Apr 1
Akebono_VanierPark_Yumi_20240324_IMG2391
Akebono_VanierPark_Yumi_20240324_IMG2391
Kitsilano Neighbourhood
Blooming dates: Mar 18 to Apr 1
20240323 MOV Stellata Willard IMG_8953 2
20240323 MOV Stellata Willard IMG_8953 2
Kitsilano Neighbourhood
Blooming dates: Mar 24 to Apr 7
20240329_Umineko_QEParkDuckPond_Eng_0030
20240329_Umineko_QEParkDuckPond_Eng_0030
Riley Park Neighbourhood
Blooming dates: Mar 24 to Apr7
20240328 Akebono_GarryPointPark_Taka5
20240328 Akebono_GarryPointPark_Taka5
Richmond Neighbourhood
Blooming dates: Mar 18 to Apr 1
20240325_SomeiYoshino_WindermereE22_Eng_0015
20240325_SomeiYoshino_WindermereE22_Eng_0015
Renfrew-Collingwood Neighbourhood
Blooming dates: Mar 17 to Mar 31
20240324 WGeorgia Akebono Willard IMG_9347
20240324 WGeorgia Akebono Willard IMG_9347
Downtown Neighbourhood
Blooming dates: Mar 18 to Apr 1
20240322 AmblesidePk Akebono Willard IMG_8811
20240322 AmblesidePk Akebono Willard IMG_8811
West Vancouver Neighbourhood
Blooming dates: Mar 18 to Apr 1
20240323 MinoruAlderbridge Shosar Willard IMG_8995
20240323 MinoruAlderbridge Shosar Willard IMG_8995
Richmond Neighbourhood
Blooming dates: March 14 to March 31
20240322 Akebono_154St & 94Ave_Taka 3
20240322 Akebono_154St & 94Ave_Taka 3
Surrey and North Delta Neighbourhood
Blooming dates: Mar 18 to Apr 1
20240322_22ndWindsor_Akebono_Blumenthal_4643
20240322_22ndWindsor_Akebono_Blumenthal_4643
Kensington-Cedar Cottage Neighbourhood
Blooming dates: Mar 18 to Apr 1
20240320_akebono_david-lam-park-11_yaletowner
20240320_akebono_david-lam-park-11_yaletowner
Downtown Neighbourhood
Blooming dates: Mar 18=Apr 1
Akebono_KitsBeachCornwall_Yumi_20240319_IMG_2290
Akebono_KitsBeachCornwall_Yumi_20240319_IMG_2290
KItsilano Neighbourhood
Blooming dates: Mar 18 to Apr 1
Akebono_BurrardStation_Cutler_20240318_112040
Akebono_BurrardStation_Cutler_20240318_112040
Downtown Neighbourhood
Blooming dates: Mar 18 to Apr 1
Accolade_5thNootka_Cutler_20240318_150212
Accolade_5thNootka_Cutler_20240318_150212
Hastings Sunrise Neighbourhood
Blooming dates: Mar 14 to Mar 26
Accolade_ChilcoComox_Cutler_20240317_125321
Accolade_ChilcoComox_Cutler_20240317_125321
West End Neighbourhood
Blooming dates: Mar 14 to Mar 26