Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Despite the chilly weather, NYC's cherry blossoms are beginning to bloom
By
Rosemary Misdary
Published Mar 22, 2024
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Daniel Shapiro
By
Rosemary Misdary
Published Mar 22, 2024
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Never mind the chilly weather — cherry blossoms are beginning to pop off in New York City.
While it may seem early for the first blossoms, city horticulturalists say the first floral delights are starting to appear around the same time as in previous years. The first hint of a pink explosion came last week during warmer weather.
About 10% of the New York Botanical Garden’s 543 cherry blossom trees are in bloom, and a single tree is blossoming in Snug Harbor on Staten Island. Some cherry blossoms are also blooming in Central Park.
“The in-your-face proliferation of some of these pink blossoms is just inherently attractive to people's sensibilities,” said Matthew Morrow, director of horticulture at the city parks department.
Cherry blossoms in New York City usually bloom between early March and the beginning of May.
Caretakers of the city’s gardens and parks say they can’t predict if the city will get an early peak bloom like Washington, D.C., which just experienced the second-earliest peak bloom on record.
Local experts said peak cherry blossom bloom is expected within the normal window. The second-earliest peak bloom on record was just recorded in Washington D.C.
Daniel Shapiro
But local gardeners predicted the peak bloom will paint the Big Apple pink in the next few weeks. There are several trackers online for blossom fanatics, including from the New York Botanical Garden, Brooklyn Botanic Garden and Central Park.
Temperatures are a big influence on cherry blossoms. The ancient trees need a cold winter to develop their buds. This year, New York City had the warmest January on record.
“Since we've had more warmer days, they're just developing faster,” said Melissa Finley, curator of woody plants at New York Botanical Garden.
The first cherry blossoms in the country were a gift from Japan in 1912. The Japanese government sent more than 3,000 trees in recognition of friendship with the United States. Some of the trees were sent to New York City and planted in Upper Manhattan's Sakura Park.
“There's something about them, the way that they drift in the wind, the way that you can plant a huge mass of them, that is just incredibly beautiful,” Finley said.
Tagged
manahttan
weather
new york city
parks
brooklyn
trees
spring
Rosemary Misdary
Rosemary is health & science reporter. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or Signal 646-544-9524.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYC tow companies busted for ripping off drivers must give $67K in refunds, city says
Mayor Mamdani has expanded enforcement on towing scams, but the unlicensed towing industry remains largely unregulated.
By
Liam Quigley
Published Oct 2, 2026 at 4:47 p.m. ET
Off-duty NYPD officer stabbed in the Bronx, police say
Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Commissioner Jessica Tisch visited the officer in the hospital.
By
Ryan Kost
News
Off-duty NYPD officer stabbed in the Bronx, police say
Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Commissioner Jessica Tisch visited the officer in the hospital.
By
Ryan Kost
DOC negligence factored in death at Rikers' Bellevue hospital outpost, jail officials say
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Conductor on NYC subway that dragged man to death may have skipped safety check, source says
By
Stephen Nessen
NYPD still searching for man who threw burning substance on victim in East Harlem
By
Ryan Kost
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .