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shutter moments - impressions through the viewfinder.

Showstopper streets for Japanese Flowering Cherries

Over a six to eight week period each spring thousands of ornamental flowering street trees come into bloom across Vancouver turning many ordinary streets into breathtaking beauty.

If you only have time to visit a few Vancouver streets during cherry blossom season, the streets listed below are the best streets we have found to enjoy and photograph Japanese flowering Cherry and Plum blossoms in full bloom.

The 3100 block of Graveley Street (at Lillooet Street) is the most popular street for a spectacular display of 'Akebono' Yoshino cherry trees in full bloom.

Different cherry trees come into bloom at different times and the very delicate, translucent petals fall after a relatively short span. This can be from about seven to fourteen days. If we do not have high winds some species or cultivars can bloom for as long as three weeks. The double-flowered varieties typically hold their blossoms longer.

Flowering dates change every year depending on weather conditions.

The Westside of Vancouver means west of Main Street and Eastside means east of Main. There will be some overlap when neighbourhoods span both the Westside and Eastside of Main Street.

This page is updated regularly as we discover new best streets to visit during blossom season.

Celebrate the beautiful cherry blossoms around the City:
Plan a picnic under the cherry trees
Create your own cherry blossom street tours
Photograph showstopper streets

Mid-February to early March

Whitcomb Flowering Higan Cherry -- Prunus subhirtella 'Whitcombii'

Single, dark pink blossoms fading to light pink or white. More about Whitcomb trees...

Westside:

Ash Street between West 45th and West 49th Avenues (22 trees);

Eastside:

McSpadden Park at Victoria Street between East 4th and East 5th Avenues (17 trees on west side)

Cherry Plum -- Prunus cerasifera (also referred to as Purple-Leaved Plum)

Single white or dark pink flowers make a spectacular show in early spring. More about the two most common Cherry Plum species in Vancouver...

Westside:

West 16th Avenue from Granville Street west to Arbutus Street;

West 21st Avenue between Puget Drive and Arbutus Street. Alternating with Pure Crab Apple;

West 20th, 22nd and 23rd Avenues between Puget Drive and Arbutus Street;

Quesnel Drive beginning at West King Edward Street heading north to Quesnel at Blenheim Street. Wonderful display of Nigra Plum trees and eventually a view of the North Shore Mountains;

Cypress Street from West 8th Avenue to McNicoll. Fantastic view of North Shore Mountains on a clear day from West 8th Avenue;

Eastside:

Gladstone Street from East 54th to East 61st Avenues. Nice views west across schoolyard to Georgia Strait and Vancouver Island;

East 61st Avenue from Gladstone to Fraser Streets. Views of pink Plum trees if you are looking west;

East 51st to East 54th Avenues (100 and 200 blocks);

Duff Street from East 54th Avenue to Brigadoon Street. Mountain views facing north from Brigadoon at Duff. Showstopper street view if looking at street from East 54th Street (2000 block);

Lancaster Street from East 45th (5900 block) to East 41st (5700 block) Streets. Attractive street worth seeing on a clear day with view of North Shore Mountains appearing to be at the end of the street;

East 3rd Avenue from Kamloops to Cassiar Streets with Pissardii and Nigra Plums. Great view of the colours if you start in the 2400 block of East 3rd looking east;

Trinity Street from North Nanaimo to North Renfrew Streets - both sides (dark pink are 'Nigra');

Kitchener Elementary School, 1351 South Gilmore Avenue, Burnaby, has one of the best views of East Vancouver when the plums and cherries are in bloom. Park at the top of William Street at South Gilmore facing west. It is best to come early in the day before the sun is in the west.

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Mid-March to mid-April

Yoshino - 'Akebono' and Somei-yoshino -- Prunus x yedoensis

Almond-scented, single very pale pink or nearly pure white flowers. More about the Yoshino...

Westside:

Stanley Park Rose Garden - picnic spot;

Burrard Street Skytrain Station - lovely display of 'Akebono' Yoshino;

Kitsilano Beach at Yew and Cornwall Streets;

University of British Columbia: Lower Mall at Nitobe Garden (23 Somei-yoshino trees and 2 very young 'Akebono' Yoshino);

West 42nd Avenue (3400 block) at Collingwood - very old Yoshino's on southside, Plums on northside;

Queen Elizabeth Park west entrance at Cambie Street and West 33rd Avenue - picnic spot;

Eastside:

Graveley Street (3100 block) at Lillooet Street - 'Akebono' Yoshino trees both sides

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Avium 'Plena' -- Prunus avium 'Plena'

Beautiful when branches are laden with rows of pure white flowers. More about the avium 'Plena'...

Westside:

Olympic Street (5500 to 5600 blocks) from West 39th to West 41st Avenues (double flowered 'Plena');

Mid-to-late April

Kanzan -- Prunus serrulata 'Kwanzan'

Large vivid purplish-pink double flowers hanging in pendulous clusters. More about the Kanzan...

Westside:

Yew Street from Cornwall Avenue to West Broadway. Great views of North Shore Mountains from West 8th Avenue down the hill to Cornwall;

Chancellor Boulevard from Acadia Road to East Mall - Kanzan trees planted on the median with spring flowers planted under many of them;

West 35th Avenue from East Boulevard to Pine Street;

Eastside:

East 35th Avenue at Windsor Street - lovely canopy of Kanzan and Sweet Cherry;

East 7th Avenue (2900 block) between Renfrew and Windemere Streets

Shirofugen -- Prunus serrulata 'Shirofugen'

Spectacular double, pure white flowers fading to pink hang in long drooping clusters. More about the Shirofugen...

Eastside:

Cambridge Street (2800 block) from Renfrew to North Kaslo Streets at Calister Park. Twenty-two Shirofugen trees in two groves

References

Straley, Gerald B. 1992. Trees of Vancouver : a guide to the common and unusual trees of the city, University of British Columbia Press, Vancouver, BC Canada.
This guide book has been the main reference for the creation of the street tree content.

Kuitert, W. 1999. Japanese Flowering Cherries, Timber Press, Portland, Oregon.
An excellent reference for learning about the different varieties of Japanese flowering cherries accompanied by stunning photographs of the cherries in bloom. View table of contents.

 

Disclaimer: The content provided on this web site is for information purposes only. Although shuttermoments.ca attempts to keep the content of this Web site current, errors may occasionally occur. We will not know which trees have been removed by the City of Vancouver until we visit the parks and streets listed here during the blossom season. We have attempted to correctly identify the trees but we may have identified some trees incorrectly. Therefore, all information and materials are provided "AS IS."

In no event will shuttermoments.ca be liable for any indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages arising out of the use of the information contained on this web site.

 

Document updated 2011 November 23

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