Japanese Flowering Cherry trees at Queen Elizabeth Park
Queen Elizabeth Park, developed in the 1950s from a former stone quarry sits on the highest point of land in Vancouver at 167 meters (505 feet) above sea level. From the top of the quarry you have a 360 degree view of the city skyline.
This is just a sampling, not a complete list of cherry trees found in the Park in the spring.
If you only have time to visit the park once during blossom season, the Yoshino trees in bloom at the West entrance at Cambie Street and West 33rd Avenue are spectacular. Do not forget your camera.
Parking is available along park roadways and in the parking lots near the Bloedel Floral Conservatory, the Pitch & Putt Golf Course and near the Yoshino grove off West Cambie Street at West 33rd Avenue.
From downtown Vancouver take bus number 15 eastbound. Get off at Cambie and West 33rd Avenue and cross the street at the stoplight to walk into the Park.
Mid-March to mid-April
Sargent Cherry (wild form) -- Prunus sargentii
One of the tallest flowering cherries, growing as high as 24 meters, it produces delicate light pink, single 5-petal flowers up to 4cm wide with deeper pink stamens and bronze-red foliage each spring.
West entrance at Cambie Street and 33rd Avenue near the parking lot - 1 tree
Yoshino -- Prunus x yedoensis
Graceful tree with curving branches. Almond-scented, single very pale pink or nearly pure white flowers. One of the most noticeable flowering trees in spring.
West entrance at Cambie Street and 33rd Avenue;
West of Quarry Garden near the parking lot - group of 'Akebono' Yoshinos;
Southeast of the Quarry Garden (West 29th Avenue side of park) - 2 trees
Shirotae -- Prunus serrulata 'Shirotae'
Small flat-topped umbrella shaped tree with slightly fragrant semi-double pure snow-white blossoms.
West of Quarry Garden near the parking lot - several trees;
Southeast of the Quarry Garden (West 29th Avenue side of park) - 2 trees
Mid-to-late April
Ukon -- Prunus serrulata 'Ukon'
Small tree with a wide-spreading crown. Large pale creamy-yellow blossoms, green-tinged with pink center.
Pitch & Putt Golf Course - north side - several old trees
Mikurama-gaeshi -- Prunus serrulata 'Mikuruma-gaeshi'
Light pink buds open to large pale pink almost white flowers on this deciduous tree. Hanging in dense clusters close to the stem, the faintly fragrant flowers are 5.0 - 6.0cm in diameter. Extremely rare in Vancouver.
Close to southeast corner of Cambie Street at West 29th Avenue - 2 trees
Kanzan -- Prunus serrulata 'Kwanzan'
Vase-shaped cherry tree with very showy, large vivid purplish-pink double flowers hanging in clusters.
West entrance at Cambie Street and 33rd Avenue - 2 trees
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Document updated 2011 November 23