Cherry Blossom at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden in New York 2024

One of the best ways to celebrate the arrival of spring is by viewing cherry blossoms

Best time: April 1–May 12, 2024 (late March/early April through mid May)

The Japanese believe that the cherry blossom symbolizes the beauty and frailty of life. New York City annually celebrates Japanese culture in spring when the cherry blossom trees are in full bloom. Those for whom viewing cherry blossoms has become an annual tradition can visit the Brooklyn Botanical Garden.

Botanical garden staff emphasize that each tree blooms for about a week, and the trees do not remain in flower at the same time. On the contrary, different species and cultivars bloom one after the other. The first cherry trees usually bloom at the same time as the daffodils. After about four weeks, the rest of the trees are covered with flowers.

Cherry blossoms are located throughout the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. Guest can delight in th delicate flowering of Prunus pendula ‘Pendula Rosea’, ‘Fudan-zakura’, ‘Shirotae’, and ‘Shirotae’ at the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden. Also, visitors can enjoy Prunus × incam ‘Okame’, Prunus × ‘yedoensis’, and Prunus ‘Kurayama’ at the Cherry Cultivars Area. It is also worth taking a walk along Cherry Walk, Cherry Esplanade, and Osborne Garden, which is enchanted with abundant flowers and the wonderful aroma of spring.

Open Hours and Tickets

When Brooklyn Botanic Garden is in bloom from April 1 to May 12, its open hours are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday (except 4 p.m. close on April 23-25) and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday. The Garden is closed on Mondays.

Visitors can buy tickets at the following prices: Adults—$18, Seniors (ages 65+) and Students (ages 12+) with valid ID—$12, Children under 12 are free. Proof of eligibility is also required for members and affiliates with free tickets.

Brooklyn Botanical Garden

The Brooklyn Botanical Garden was founded in 1910 with botanist Charles Stuart Gager as director and officially opened on May 13, 1911. It was originally called the Original Native Flora Garden, and its collection featured native plants, including wildflower beds.

Over time, the Botanical Garden evolved and was updated with various plants that could be seen in the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden, Rock Garden, Lily Pool Terrace, Cherry Walk, Shakespeare Garden, Cranford Rose Garden, Rose Arc Pool, Magnolia Plaza, Herb Garden, Osborne Garden, Fragrance Garden, Discovery Garden, and other fascinating places. BBG inspires people of all ages through the conservation, display, and enjoyment of plants to interact with nature and respect the environment.