The National Park Service declared on Sunday that the District’s cherished cherry blossoms have reached stage 5 of six, with peak bloom fast approaching. The pink and white blossoms that line the Tidal Basin are beginning to emerge from the Yoshino cherry trees, which are currently in the ‘Puffy White’ stage. The NPS predicts that this year’s cherry blossoms in D.C. will peak between March 28 and March 31.
The Yoshino cherry trees are now at the “Puffy White” stage, meaning the pink and white blossoms lining the Tidal Basin are starting to show.
“…Now we’re just waiting on them to open. Peak Bloom is next!” the NPS said, in part, in a post on the X platform.
Three days have passed since the famous flowers reached stage 4 of their trek to peak bloom, which the NPS predicts will occur this year between March 28 and March 31.
Stages of Cherry Blossom Bloom
The six phases of bloom progression that are monitored are:
- Stage1: Green bud
- Stage 2: Florets visible
- Stage 3: Extension of florets
- Stage 4: Peduncle elongation
- Stage 5: Puffy blossom
- Stage 6: Peak bloom.
70% of the blossoms must be open for peak bloom, which changes every year based on the weather.
According to the NPS, peak bloom occurred as early as March 15 (1990) and as late as April 18 (1958) due to unusually warm or mild temperatures. On March 15, last year, the blossoms entered stage 4, and two days later, they reached their full bloom.
The National Park Service stated that the famous cherry blossoms are officially reaching stage 5, or puffy white flowers, on March 23, 2025, as they continue their trek towards peak bloom.
Stage 1 of the blooming process started on March 11 and was followed by Stage 2 on March 16. It then swiftly advanced to Stage 3 on March 19 and Stage 4 on March 20. The last stage before peak bloom is represented by the puffy white blossom of stage 5.
The cherry blossoms, on the other hand, had a varied schedule in recent years. While stage 1 began on March 2 of last year, budding started as early as February 23 of 2023, stage 3 by March 7, and peak bloom on March 23.
The NPS keeps a close eye on indicator trees, which bloom before the others, to forecast peak bloom. To improve their estimations, experts consult historical data, current measurements, and temperature patterns.
Predicting peak bloom is still difficult, though, and timing might occasionally change without warning. For example, in 2021, peak bloom reached one week earlier than projected.
The development of the cherry blossoms is significantly influenced by the weather. While chilly snaps slow down blossoming, warm temps speed it up.
March 15, 1990, was the earliest peak bloom date ever noted. On April 18, 1958, the most recent peak bloom was brought on by extended cold weather. Even though peak bloom arrived on March 25, a late freeze between March 14 and March 17 damaged about half of the blossoms in 2017.
Where to View the Flowers
The Tidal Basin is the most visible location to view the cherry blossom trees in Washington, D.C. It can get congested, though, as over a million visitors are anticipated during peak bloom. But it’s not the only location in D.C. to see cherry blossoms. There are some additional locations to witness the District’s burgeoning custom. The Tidal Basin, where these fragile blooms turn the city into a magnificent springtime spectacle, will be the centre of attention as D.C. approaches full bloom.