Here’s when cherry blossoms are expected to bloom in Toronto

Spring is here in Toronto and cherry blossoms will bloom soon in the city.

Typically, the trees bloom with their distinctive light pink and white petals in late April to early May in Toronto but the timing depends on the weather. In 2024, the blooms were at peak around April 22 in High Park.

Colder weather last week has slowed the progress of the blooms, and there is another temperature drop, with a chance of snow, expected this week.

The latest forecast predicts the pink flowers will open in two to three weeks, according to Sakura in High Park’s April 10 report.

“As of today, I predict the bloom dates will be at the end of April or early May,” the report said.

The buds are well formed and brightly coloured – all healthy signs, Sakura in High Park said.

The High Park Nature Centre website said that as of April 12, the cherry blossoms in High Park are in stage one of the bloom development process.

“It is still early to make a definitive prediction on when peak bloom will occur,” the centre said.

The history of cherry blossoms in Toronto dates back to 1959 when the Japanese ambassador to Canada, Toru-Hagiwara, presented 2,000 Japanese Somei-Yoshino Sakura trees to the citizens of Toronto on behalf of the citizens of Tokyo. The trees were planted in appreciation of Toronto accepting re-located Japanese-Canadians following the Second World War. Many were planted on the hillside overlooking Grenadier Pond in High Park.

High Park is known for its large concentration of trees but there are many other places in the city to see the beautiful flowers. Centennial Park at 151 Elmcrest Rd., Etobicoke has over 400 trees.

University of Toronto’s John P. Robarts Research Library, Trinity Bellwoods Park and Toronto’s Centre Island are also good places to see the blooms.

See the City of Toronto website for more locations.

Photos of High Park cherry blossoms in 2024: Karen Longwell