March 24, 2023. Double (or semi-double) flowered ‘Accolade’ cherries are starting to look good around town. These flowers have more than five petals. They are more than twice the diameter of the earlier-blooming ‘Autumnalis Rosea’, and they form a tidier flatter disk. Shirley Willard took this photo at Vancouver City Hall on March 19.

20230319 CityHall Accolade Willard IMG_0915
Accolade_VancCityHall_Willard_20230319_IMG_0915

For a comparison, here are ‘Autumnalis Rosea’ flowers from March 11. This is the only other cherry cultivar in bloom right now with more than 5 petals. Well, sometimes you can find an extra petal on ‘Whitcomb’ blossoms, but that is rare. Thanks again to Shirley Willard for the photo.

20230311 PacificWBurrard Autumnalisrosea Willard IMG_0488
20230311 PacificWBurrard Autumnalisrosea Willard IMG_0488


You can find blossom photos featured here at Blog – Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival (vcbf.ca). And the festival favourite locations posted last year are still below, in the No Longer in Bloom section of this page.

You can share your finds on our forums at VCBF Neighbourhood Blogs | UBC Botanical Garden Forums – note this is temporarily not available.

You can find photos previously featured here last year in the Album at https://vcbf.ca/albums/blossoms-from-2022/. If you missed some of these postings, the newer ones have been saved in the Blog – Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival (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

The 2023 Second International Cherry Blossom Predition Competition closed on February 28. Vancouver’s location for the competition is again the ‘Akebono’ trees in Maple Grove Park, at the corner of SW Marine Drive and Yew Street. The overall consensus for the blooming date for these trees in 2023 is April 5. On March 20, the Cherry Blossom Prediction Competition’s Jonathan L. Auerbach spoke with CBC Radio’s Gloria Macarenko about trying to figure out when the Instagram-worthy blossoms will appear. Here is the 6-minute interview: https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-46-on-the-coast/clip/15973390-what-day-think-cherry-blossoms-bloom-year.

Douglas Justice, Associate Director, Horticulture & Collections at UBC Botanical Garden, and Wendy Cutler, VCBF Cherry Scout Co-ordinator, have begun following the blooming progress of these trees and will report the “official” peak bloom date for this location for this year.

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‘Akebono’ cherries in Maple Grove Park, buds not more than starting to open on March 16. Photos by Wendy Cutler.
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‘Akebono’ cherries in Maple Grove Park, pink buds are evident on March 21. Photos on this date by Wendy Cutler.
Akebono_MapleGrovePark_Cutler_20230321_152628.
One of the three large trees at Maple Grove Park. There is a fourth younger tree in this group; the bloom date of the flowers on that tree are not being considered for the competition.
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‘Akebono’ cherries in Maple Grove Park, pink buds are evident on March 21.
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Two days later, March 23, cooler than 10C degrees and partly rainy. Still, there is some reddening of the overall tree colour with advancing bud development.
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March 23 – Some buds have started to swell, but others not yet. Pedicels (flower stems) are starting to be visible, are less than 1cm.
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March 23 – These are the only open flowers on any of the trees.
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Another two days have elapsed, but not much development has occurred. These are still the only open flowers. The weather was better, but a little below 10C degrees.
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March 23, it’s hard to judge the the overall colour compared to what it was when the weather was so dreary two days ago.
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March 23, more of the pedicels were approaching 1 cm.

You can find last year’s photos at https://vcbf.ca/2022-cherry-blossom-prediction-competition/.

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

Here is a sampling of VCBF Festival Favourite photo-op locations posted by our Cherry Scouts. You too can become a Cherry Scout – see Cherry Scouts – Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival (vcbf.ca)

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Mount Pleasant ‘Accolade’
Vancouver City Hall
Bloom Dates: Mar 19 to Apr 4
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West End ‘Accolade’
Chilco and Nelson Streets
Bloom Dates: Mar 19 to Apr 4
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Richmond ‘Whitcomb’
Hazelbridge and Alexandra
Bloom Dates: Mar 18 to Apr 5
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Kensington-Cedar Cottage ‘Whitcomb’
Fleming and 32nd
Bloom Dates: Mar 18 to Apr 5

Festival Favourites from 2022

While our forums are temporarily unavailable, we’ll keep last year’s sample of favourites here. Note that this year’s blooming dates may differ, particularly for the earier blooming trees.

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Riley Park ‘Shiro-fugen’
Mountainview Cemetery
Bloom Dates: Apr 23 to May 7
20220502 14Argyle Shirofugen Willard2_6
West Vancouver ‘Shiro-fugen’
14th and Argyle
Bloom Dates: Apr 24 to May 8
20220428 SecheltVis Shiro-fugen Willard3_10
Sunshine Coast ‘Shiro-fugen’
Sechelt Visitor Centre
Bloom Dates: Apr 24 to May 8
20220424 Callister Shirofugen Willard4_5
Hastings-Sunrise ‘Shiro-fugen’
Callister Park
Bloom Dates: Apr 17 to May 10
20220505 TaylorWay Kanzan Willard5_5
West Vancouver ‘Kanzan’
Taylor Way
Bloom Dates: Apr 17 to Apr 30
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Strathcona ‘Shiro-fugen’
Gore and Union
Bloom Dates: Apr 17 to May 10
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Sunset Prunus avium ‘Plena’ (with ‘Kanzan’)
Elgin, 47th to 49th
Bloom Dates: Apr 23 to May 7
20220421 65Adera AviumPlena Willard1_5
Marpole avium ‘Plena’
West 65th and Adera
Bloom Dates: Apr 14 to Apr 28
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Langley ‘Shogetsu’
Church of the Latter Day Saints, 20370-82ndSt
Bloom Dates: Apr 16 to Apr 30
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Riley Park avium ‘Plena’
West 29th/Midlothian at Cambie
Bloom Dates: Apr 14 to Apr 28
20220503 211ASt85AAve Kanzan Willard2_3
Langley ‘Kanzan’
211A Street and 85A Avenue
Bloom Dates: Apr 13 to Apr 30
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Kensington-Cedar Cottage ‘Kanzan’
East 18th Avenue and Knight Street
Bloom Dates: Apr 17 to Apr 30
20220424 Osborne4 Kanzan Willard4_4
New Westminster ‘Kanzan’
Osborne Avenue
Bloom Dates: Apr 17 to Apr 30
20220424 FraserCem Kanzan Willard3_6
New Westminster ‘Kanzan’
Fraser Cemetery
Bloom Dates: Apr 17 to Apr 30
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Renfrew-Collingwood ‘Kanzan’
Rupert Street at from East 12th to 29th
Bloom Dates: Apr 17 to Apr 30
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Dunbar-Southlands ‘Kanzan’
Dunbar Street, 18th to King Edward
Bloom Dates: Apr 17 to Apr 30
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Kensington-Cedar Cottage ‘Kanzan’
East 29th and Ross
Bloom Dates: Apr 17 to Apr 30
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Grandview-Woodland ‘Kanzan’
East 3rd Avenue and Semlin
Bloom Dates: Apr 17 to Apr 30
20220420- Burrard Bridge South 3 - Kanzen - Yaletowner
Kitsilano ‘Kanzan’
Cornwall and Burrard
Bloom Dates: Apr 17 to Apr 30
20220421 66Adera Kanzan Willard2_5
Marpole ‘Kanzan’
West 66th, Adera to Granville
Bloom Dates: Apr 17 to Apr 30
20220419 Kanzan E10th&Glen - Taka 5
Mount Pleasant ‘Kanzan’
East 10th and Glen Drive
Bloom Dates: Apr 17 to Apr 30
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Renfrew-Collingwood ‘Kanzan’
North on Rupert from East 29th, 17 blocks
Bloom Dates: Apr 17 to Apr 30
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Marpole ‘Kanzan’
West 71st and Montcalm
Bloom Dates: Apr 17 to Apr 30
20220420-Island Park Walk 1 - Kanzen - Yaletowner
Fairview ‘Kanzan’
Granville Island
Bloom Dates: Apr 17 to Apr 30
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Kitsilano ‘Kanzan’
West 3rd Avenue, Cornwall to Broadway
Bloom Dates: Apr 17 to Apr 30
20220416-Beatty Mews 2 - Kanzan - Yaletowner
Downtown ‘Kanzan’
Beatty Mews
Bloom Dates: Apr 12 to Apr 25
Ukon_37th Baillie_llennie_20220417_165522and165540
South Cambie ‘Ukon’
Baillie, 37th to 41st
Bloom Dates: Apr 13 to Apr 26
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Renfrew-Collingwood ‘Ukon’
East 15th and Nootka
Bloom Dates: Apr 13 to Apr 26
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Burnaby ‘Somei-yoshino’ (unseasonably late for this cultivar)
Burnaby Mountain
Bloom Dates: Apr 10 to Apr 22
20220411 Churchill Ukon Willard3_6
Kerrisdale ‘Ukon’
Churchill from 47th to 49th
Bloom Dates: Apr 13 to Apr 26
20220408 SP Shirotae Willard 5_6
West End / Stanley Park ‘Shirotae’
Stanley Park, near the Japanese Memorial
Bloom Dates: Mar 28 to Apr 12
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West Point Grey ‘Tai-haku’
16th and Crown
Bloom Dates: Apr 5 to Apr 17
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Kerrisdale Tai-haku’
Balsam, 41st to 43rd
Bloom Dates: Apr 5 to Apr 17
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Kitsilano ‘Tai-haku’
Seaforth Peace Park
Bloom Dates: Apr 2 to Apr 17
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New Westminster ‘Akebono’
Jamieson Ct off of Richmond Street
Bloom Dates: Mar 29 to Apr 14
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Victoria-Fraserview ‘Somei-yoshino’
East 41st, from Gladstone to Stirling
Bloom Dates: Mar 28 to Apr 8
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Surrey and North Delta ‘Akebono’
Spenser Drive
Bloom Dates: Mar 28 to Apr 8
Akebono_DavidLamPark-BigPicnic_Cutler_20220402_143105
Downtown ‘Akebono’
David Lam Park
Bloom Dates: Mar 23 to Apr 6
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Dunbar-Southlands ‘Akebono’
West 37th, Highbury to Wallace
Bloom Dates: Mar 29 to Apr 13
Akebobo_158 St and 102 Ave_tknd_2020 0330 158&102
Surrey and North Delta ‘Akebono’
158 St and 102 Ave
Bloom Dates: Mar 29 to Apr 13
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Sunset ‘Afterglow’
Prince Edward and East 62nd
Bloom Dates: Mar 28 to Apr 8
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Dunbar-Southlands ‘Akebono’
West 37th and Highbury
Bloom Dates: Mar 29 to Apr 13
20220329 HB Akebono Willard 3_6
West Vancouver ‘Akebono’
Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal
Bloom Dates: Mar 24 to Apr 11
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Richmond ‘Akebono’
Garry Point Park
Bloom Dates: Mar 26 to Apr 7
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Marpole ‘Akebono’
West 64th west of Ash
Bloom Dates: Mar 29 to Apr 13
20220325-Marinaside Seawall - Akebono - Yaletowner
Downtown ‘Akebono’
Marinaside west of Yaletown Aquabus
Bloom Dates: Mar 23 to Apr 12
Burnaby ‘Akebono’
Madison Centre (Rosser/Madison)
Bloom Dates: Mar 29 to Apr 13
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Downtown ‘Akebono’
Art Phillips Park (Burrard Station)
Bloom Dates: Mar 23 to Apr 12
Akebono_CrowleyDr_Yong_20220325_IMG_9191.JPG
Renfrew-Collingwood ‘Akebono’
Collingwood Village, Crowley Drive
Bloom Dates: Mar 29 to Apr 13
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Kensington-Cedar Cottage ‘Akebono’
22nd and Windsor
Bloom Dates: Mar 29 to Apr 13
20220325_6thSlocan_Akebono_Tremblay_IMG_1493.jpg
Hastings-Sunrise ‘Akebono’
East 6th and Slocan
Bloom Dates: Mar 29 to Apr 13
Akebono_MuseumOfVancouver_Cutler_20220325_153926.jpg
Kitsilano ‘Akebono’
Museum of Vancouver
Bloom Dates: Mar 24 to Apr 11
Akebono_KitsBeachCornwall_Cutler_20220325_161549.jpg
Kitsilano ‘Akebono’
Cornwall at Kits Beach
Bloom Dates: Mar 24 to Apr 11
20220325_5thLillooet_accolade_tremblay_IMG_1469.jpg
Hastings-Sunrise ‘Accolade’
East 5th and Lillooet
Bloom Dates: Mar 11 to Mar 29
Accolade_ChilcoComox_Cutler_20220317_160342
West End ‘Accolade’
Chilco mini-park
Bloom Dates: Mar 8 to Mar 26
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Mount Pleasant ‘Accolade’
Vancouver City Hall
Bloom Dates: Mar 14 to Mar 30
20220316-RockpooleDr59-Whitcomb-Willard-IMG_4982-2
Marpole ‘Whitcomb’
Rockpoole Dr, north of 59th
Bloom Dates: Mar 1 to Mar 21
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Kensington-Cedar Cottage ‘Accolade’
Dumfries near E. 33rd Avenue
Bloom Dates: Mar 1 to Mar 21
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Sunset ‘Whitcomb’
E. 59th Avenue, east of Main Street
Bloom Dates: Mar 1 to Mar 21