Cherry blossoms will bloom early this year. Here’s why, and where to see them in Philly

For a number of celebratory weeks in spring, pink and white blossoms from Okame, Yoshino, and weeping cherry varieties fill the sky with color and a sense of romance and whimsy. In Philadelphia and elsewhere around the country, the colorful shower of petals represents abundance and warmer days to come.

But 2023 may prove a bit different from years past.

Sandi Polyakov, head gardener of Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center in Fairmount, said that while predicting when a cherry tree will blossom is not an exact science, an increase in regional temperatures in January and February has experts anticipating an early bloom this year. In Washington., for instance, NPR reported the so-called indicator tree (which blooms days earlier than most of the other 4,000 trees) is showing signs of flower buds.

Philadelphia is home to more than 15 types of cultivated cherry trees (upward of 2,500 trees as of 2021). “Once they start blooming in D.C., it works as a chain reaction — we can expect it in Philly within weeks,” said Anthony Aiello, associate director of conservation at Longwood Gardens, in Kennett Square. Given Philadelphia’s northerly position (D.C. is warmer), cherry trees here usually bloom a couple of weeks later — late March into early April have historically represented peak blossom season.

Andrew Bunting from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society said that “the weather triggers the trees into thinking it’s time to bloom.”

Cherry trees exhibit six stages of bloom, which “helps us track the progress and adjust the estimated time, according to the weather forecast, to make a peak bloom prediction,” said Polyakov.

The danger of cherry trees blooming early is that a late-season frost or cold snap can cause serious damage. According to Bunting, temperatures in the lower 30s s could damage already-bloomed flowers, essentially burning them and turning them brown. If temperatures drop lower than the upper 20s, the buds will be affected. “Flowers can actually be damaged in the bud and you won’t know that until they open,” said Bunting. The result? Brown, muddy-looking blossoms, instead of the cheerful pink.

The trees themselves aren’t hurt by the low temperatures, so they will be able to produce new flowers the following spring. However, if flowers and buds coming out in 2023 get damaged by the cold, this doesn’t mean all is lost. Different cherry trees bloom at different times, so while early buds might get burned by the cold, late bloomers may still be unharmed.

According to Aiello, early blossoms are “an indicator of bigger things that are happening in the environment.” As The Inquirer reported in February, Philly just recorded its warmest January in 91 years.

Early spring temperatures could cause other problems in the environment, said Aiello and Bunting. “This could mean crops could come too early and be affected by a drop in temperature,” said Bunting. “There is also the issue of other flowers blooming too early and not matching with pollinators, which widely affects the ecosystem,” said Aiello.

While the cherry trees haven’t bloomed yet, these are the top spots for experiencing cherry blossoms in Philadelphia.

📍 100 N Horticultural Drive, 💵free.

📍4231 Avenue of the Republic (look for cherry blossoms behind Memorial Hall), 💵free.

📍1800 Belmont Mansion Drive, 💵 free.

📍Race Street and Columbus Boulevard, 💵 free.

📍South of Montgomery Drive north to Falls Bridge, 💵 free.

📍North of Boathouse Row along the river, 💵 free.

📍3100 Powelton Ave., 💵 free.

📍1800 Walnut St., 💵free.

📍2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, 💵free.

📍1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, 💵 children under 5 are free, kids up to 18 pay $13, adults $25, and seniors and students $22, 🌐longwoodgardens.org

📍1769-1825, State Route 3005 at West Fairmount Park, 💵free (donations encouraged), 🗓️ April 15 to 16, 🌐japanphilly.org

📍100 E. Northwestern Ave., 💵 Children under 3 are free, kids up to 17 pay $6, adults $12, and seniors $11, 🌐morrisarboretum.org