What is the best time to visit New York for cherry blossoms?
There’s two main varieties of cherry trees in New York City. Yoshino trees & Kwanzan trees, which bloom at separate times. Yoshino trees bloom in early to mid April, Kwanzan trees bloom in late April, which means you can catch fantastic spring blooms during a month-long span!
But the goal is to catch the cherry blossoms at peak bloom in NYC, which is more challenging to pin down because peak bloom varies from year to year (depending on the winter weather). Peak bloom is typically a short-lived window (3-4 days). My best advice is to visit mid-April through early May.
P.S If you can’t make it out to see the cherry blossoms in NYC for yourself, I highly recommend getting this beautiful book. It’s a great gift for anyone that needs a remedy for NYC wanderlust.
Types of Blossoms in New York City
As I mentioned, one of the best things about spring in New York City is that there’s a variety of cherry trees. The first cherry blossoms in NYC are Yoshino Cherry Trees (they bloom early April), which are followed in early May by Kwanzan Cherry Tree blooms (sometimes known at Japanese Cherry).
Let’s break them down further below.
Yoshino Cherry Trees (Early-April)
The Yoshino cherry trees in New York City were gifted from Japan in 1912. Producing delicate white flowers that give off a very light almond scent, they can reach impressive heights of 40 feet. These are the first cherry trees to bloom in New York City and you can expect to catch them at peak around the first and second weeks of April.
Kwanzan Cherry Trees (Early May)
Kwanzan cherry trees produce heavy clusters of double-petal flowers adorned in deep pink shades. The clusters take on a full mushroom shape, making them exceptionally beautiful. These cherry blossoms don’t bloom until early May.
Kwanzan cherry trees are slightly shorter than Yoshino cherry trees and grow to heights of 30 feet. However, the blooms are much more colorful than the muted cherry blossoms from Yoshino trees. You can typically spot these trees from a distance.
Crabapple Trees (April – May)
Crabapple trees have some of the prettiest blooms, in my opinion. This largely thanks to the explosion of color between the budding green leaves, the pleasant creamy white shade of the open petals and velvety fuscia shades of the closed petals.
Crabapple trees bloom between April and May. Based on personal experience they tend to bloom around the same time as Kwanzan trees and you’ll often see these two varieties of New York City cherry blossoms planted next to each other.
Magnolia Trees (Early April)
Much like the Yoshino trees, Magnolias are early bloomers (early April) and their large flowers are truly breathtaking! There are 4 types of magnolia trees in New York City, sweetbay magnolias, saucer magnolias, southern magnolias and star magnolias.
The list in my order
8 I’d go back to and 1 only if it suits you. 9 cost nothing. My verdict on every one, and the ones nearby from my other lists.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
For a few fleeting weeks each spring, New York trades its concrete edge for clouds of pink and white. It’s the city’s gentlest season.
In spring, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden becomes a breathtaking sea of pink and white as the famous cherry blossoms reach full bloom. The Cherry Esplanade, a grand, open lawn flanked by two dramatic rows of Kanzan cherry trees, is the highlight.
For a few fleeting weeks, the garden becomes one of the most popular spots in the city for spring blooms. So much so, the garden provides a very helpful spring bloom tracker on their website.
Best Time to Visit the Brooklyn Botanic Garden for Cherry Blossoms in NYC.Early May.
Roosevelt Island
Roosevelt Island has some of the best skyline views of New York City, but most locals tend to save their visit for the spring, not hard to see why. Roosevelt Island is home to both Yoshino trees (which bloom in early April) and Kwanzan trees (early May), giving visitors a four-week window to see cherry blossoms in NYC.
The trees along the waterfront create a stunning canopy of blooms. Take a stroll down the esplanade or park yourself on a bench and people watch for a while.
Best Time to Visit Roosevelt Island for Cherry Blossoms.Early-mid April through mid-May.
Central Park
Local tip The cherry blossoms at the Central Park Conservatory Garden bloom about a week later than the ones at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, so if you miss peak bloom at one, head to the other for a second chance.
As if you needed another reason to love Central Park! You’ll want to visit Central Park in the spring to fully appreciate the mesmerizing beauty of this beloved local gem. As you know, Central Park is huge. It spans more than 840 acres.
If you’re after the best spots for cherry blossom in Central Park, read our helpful guide on the spring blooms in Central Park. If you don’t have time to read the article (yet), just know you can’t miss the jaw-dropping Shakespeare Garden, because the tulips are gorgeous!
Places to check out in Central Park for cherry blossoms.
- Cherry Hill. Mid-Park at West 72nd Street
- Pilgrim Hill. East 72nd Street
- Conservatory Garden. East Side from 104th to 106th Street
- Kennedy Onassis Reservoir. 85th Street to 96th Street
- The Shakespeare Garden
I suggest wearing comfortable shoes (here’s my advice on the best shoes for walking around NYC) and getting an early start. Central Park gets very busy during the spring season because it’s magical!
If you’d like some guidance during your first visit to Central Park, I suggest reading 15 ICONIC Things to Do in Central Park (our most popular post). It highlights the top attractions in the park, hope you enjoy!
Riverside Park
Situated along the Hudson River on the Upper West Side, Riverside Park is often considered Manhattan’s most scenic waterfront park. Stretching from West 59th Street to 181st Street, the park spans 400 acres!
It’s full of healthy trees that offer ample shade and there’s even has some charming gardens to explore (like the famous garden in You’ve Got Mail). This also one of the best spots to see cherry blossoms in New York City, particularly a 4-mile stretch from 100th to 125th Street (referred to as “Cherry Walk”).
Fun fact The cherry trees at Riverside Park were planted from the same group of trees as those at the Tidal Basin D.C.
Best Time to Visit Riverside Park for Cherry Blossoms in New York City.Late April – early May.
Green-Wood Cemetery
I know some folks might consider a cemetery as a place to see cherry blossoms a morbid thought, but this peaceful place is hard to beat. The highest concentration of cherry blossoms can be found by the Valley Water and Sylvan Water ponds (pictured above).
This also a really great spot for birding during the spring season, so take advantage. While visiting the cemetery, make an effort to see the 25-year art installation titled Here Lie the Secrets of the Visitors of Green-Wood Cemetery. It’s a grave designed specifically for secrets, visitors can write their most intimate thoughts on paper and lay them to rest.
Best Time to Visit Green-Wood Cemetery for NYC Cherry Blossoms.Early May.
Hunter's Point South Park
Hunter’s Point South Park is located in Long Island City, Queens. The folks who designed the park did a great job of planting rows of Yoshino trees near the water, which has turned this into a fantastic place to see cherry blossoms in NYC. You’ll get the opportunity to take in stunning views of the Manhattan skyline, while soaking in the light almond-light fragrance of cherry blossoms.
Best Time to Visit Hunter’s Point South Park for Cherry Blossoms.Early to mid April. For reference, the photo was taken April 8, 2023.
Washington Square Park
There’s really no bad time to visit New York’s premier people-watching park, but spring is especially memorable. You’ll see all sorts of spring blooms at the park (the prolific daffodils are a highlight!), but my favorite blooms are the magnolias and Yoshino cherry trees near the arch.
Best Time to Visit Washington Square Park for Cherry Blossoms in NYC.Early-mid April
I come back to this spot regularly because it never disappoints me. The best part is that it’s easy to reach by subway, and you won’t need to spend a fortune to enjoy it. Plan to arrive early, especially on weekends, when it tends to get busy by midday. Trust me, the early morning calm is worth setting an alarm for.
New York Botanical Garden
The New York Botanical Garden is worth visiting for plant lovers year-round, but especially so in spring. From the elegant Japanese cherry trees near the Cherry Collection to the delicate blooms lining the Bronx River, the fleeting beauty of sakura season transforms the garden into one of the most magical spots in the city.
Best Time to Visit the New York Botanical Garden for NYC Cherry Blossoms.Early May.
Prospect Park
Prospect Park was designed by Frederick Olmstead and Calvert Vaux (the architects responsible for Central Park). Located in Brooklyn, the park is a masterpiece but gets much fewer visitors than Central Park. Locals tend to congregate around the top attractions, like the Long Meadow (spanning 90-acres), the Prospect Park Zoo, the charming Boathouse, Picnic House and Concert Grove.
But if you’re visiting to see some of the best spring blooms in Brooklyn, you’ll want to focus on the area by the Grand Army Plaza and the Long Meadow. Bring a picnic blanket and make an afternoon of it! Make sure to check out this helpful spring bloom guide from Prospect Park Alliance, it tracks peak bloom in the park.
Best Time to Visit Prospect Park for Cherry Blossoms in New York City.Early May.
New York City Blossoms Map
I hope this guide to Cherry blossoms New York City gives you exactly what you need to plan an incredible time in New York City. My biggest tip? Don’t try to do everything in one trip. Pick your top priorities, leave room for spontaneity, and savor each experience fully. If you’re visiting in spring or fall, you’re in for a real treat since those are my favorite seasons in the city. Let me know in the comments which spots you’re most excited about, and don’t forget to check out my other NYC guides!
