Peak Bloom For DC Cherry Blossoms To Come Early: Latest Timing

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National District's Yoshino cherry trees are likely to reach peak bloom stage a few days ahead of the projected date, according to the National Park Service.

Cherry trees along the Tidal Basin have reached Stage 5: Puffy White, bringing the District to the final stage before peak bloom, according to the NPS on Monday.

"Wow! This weekend's warm weather pushed the Yoshino cherry trees to Stage Five - Puffy White. The blossoms are coming out, now we're just waiting on them to open," the National Park Service posted on social media. "Peak bloom is expected this week."

The NPS earlier this month said the estimated 2026 full bloom dates for D.C.'s famed Yoshino cherry blossoms will run from March 29 to April 1.

Peak bloom is defined as the day when 70 percent of the cherry blossoms are open.

The earliest peak bloom on record was March 15, 1990.

Here are the six cherry blossom stages NPS tracks:

1. Green bud
2. Florets visible
3. Extension of florets
4. Peduncle elongation
5. Puffy blossom
6. Peak bloom

The leading destination for virtual “bloom watchers,” Bloom Watch is the go-to source for official updates about peak bloom, with details about the bloom stages and a link to National Park Service’s #BloomCam.

View the Bloomcam to monitor the state of blossoms at the Tidal Basin this spring.