Create your own Cherry blossom street toursVancouver, nestled between sea and mountains becomes a city of many shades of white and pink each spring as over 36,000 flowering cherries and cherry plum trees come into bloom. Different cherry trees come into bloom at different times and the very delicate, translucent petals are short-lived. 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 months listed here are typical dates during a normal year. But these dates can change depending on numerous factors including rainfall, temperature and cloud cover. This is just a sampling, not a complete list of cherry trees found in our parks and on our streets and boulevards. If streets around them have similar Cherry trees, they are not always listed here. 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. For a list of Ornamental Cherries found planted around UBC see the University of British Columbia main campus page. Kitchener Elementary School in Burnaby at 1351 South Gilmore Avenue 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. To learn more about a specific tree on a street, phone the Vancouver Park Board "Street Trees" hotline at 604-257-8600. This page is updated regularly as we discover new streets during blossom season. Celebrate the beautiful cherry blossoms around the City: |
Select a tree to see locations: Mid-February to early March Cherry Plum - Pissardii & 'Nigra' Mid-March to mid-April Somei-Yoshino and 'Akebono' Yoshino Hillier's 'Spire' Flowering Cherry Sweet Cherry 'Plena' (P. avium) Mid-to-late April 7-day weather forecast Environment Canada Web site (external link) About Ornamental Cherries Guide to Vancouver Ornamental Cherry trees Cherry blossom resources Please read Photo gallery 
|
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:
West 6th Avenue at Arbutus Street next to railway tracks in neighbourhood park;
Ash Street between West 45th and West 49th Avenues (22 trees) - showstopper street;
Marine Crescent at West 49th Avenue - west side;
Eastside:
East 59th Avenue (200 & 300 blocks) between Main and Prince Edward Streets - both sides;
McSpadden Park at Victoria Street between East 4th and East 5th Avenues (17 trees on west side) - showstopper street
Atropurpurea (Purple-Leaved Plum) -- Prunus cerasifera 'Pissardii'
Single white or pale pink flowers make a spectacular show in early spring. More about the Pissardii Cherry Plum...
Westside:
Kitsilano Beach - at Cornwall and Point Grey Road - one of the first trees to blossom in Vancouver;
Creelman Avenue from Chestnut to Maple Avenues;
Bayswater Street from West 4th to West 2nd Avenues (darker Plums are 'Nigra');
Cypress Street from West 8th Avenue to McNicoll Street - showstopper street;
West 20th to West 23rd Avenues between Arbutus and MacDonald Streets (darker Plums are 'Nigra') - showstopper streets;
West 21st Avenue between Puget Drive and Arbutus Street - alternating with Pure Crab Apple;
West 20th Avenue (3600 block) from Dunbar to Highbury Streets - both sides;
West 20th Avenue (3900) at Wallace Street - both sides;
Blenheim Street from West 41st Avenue to South West Marine Drive - both sides (darker Plums are 'Nigra');
West 16th Avenue from Granville Street west to Arbutus Street - both sides - showstopper street;
West 63rd Avenue (500 block) from Cambie Street to Ash Street - Pissardii's on south side, Yoshino's on north side;
West 63rd Avenue (700 block) from Ash Street to Heather Street to - both sides
Eastside:
Grant Street (2200 block) from Garden to Lakewood Drives - both sides;
Napier Street (3200 block) at Windermere Street - both sides;
East 7th Avenue (2700 block) from Kaslo to Kamloops Streets - both sides (darker Plums are 'Nigra');
East 3rd Avenue from Kamloops to Cassiar Streets - both sides;
East 3rd Avenue from Renfrew to Rupert Streets - alternating with Kanzans;
Sunset Park at 404 East 51st Avenue (at Prince Edward Street);
Duff Street (7000 to 7400 blocks) from East 54th Avenue to Brigadoon Street;
Gladstone Street (7100 to 7600 blocks) from East 55th to East 61st Avenues - both sides;
East 61st Avenue (2100 block) from Gladstone to Fraser Streets (darker Plums are 'Nigra');
Lancaster Street at East 45th Avenue (5900 block) to East 41st Avenue;
Doman Street at East 46th Avenue;
Brooks Street (6100 to 6900 blocks) from East 46th to East 54th Avenues - both sides;
Nigra (Purple-Leaved Plum) -- Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra'
Single darker pink flowers. More about the 'Nigra'...
Westside:
West 4th Avenue between Balaclava and Bayswater Streets - west side;
West 12th Avenue from Cypress to Maple Streets - south side;
Cypress Street at West 13th Avenue;
Trafalgar Street at West 18th Anvenue - both sides;
Quesnel Drive (3400 block) from Blenheim to West King Edward Streets - showstopper street;
West 43rd Street (1900 block) from Maple to Cypress Streets - both sides;
Elm Street between West 45th and West 49th Avenues - both sides
Eastside:
Trinity Street at North Nanaimo to North Renfrew Streets - both sides (lighter Plums are Pissardii);
Wall Street (2700 block) - small park on north side, great views of North Shore;
Napier Street from Kaslo to Nanaimo Streets (lighter Plums are Pissardii) - both sides;
Parker Street from Kaslo to Nanaimo Streets (lighter Plums are Pissardii) - both sides;
Venables Street (2700 to 2400 blocks) from Kaslo to Nanaimo Streets - both sides;
Graveley Street (2400 block) between Penticton and Nanaimo Streets - both sides;
East 25th Avenue (3200 block) from Windermere to Kootenay Streets - both sides
Accolade -- Prunus 'Accolade'
Masses of pink, semi-double flowers on this graceful spreading tree. More about the Accolade...
Westside:
Yew Street from West 43rd to West 46th Avenues;
West 50th Avenue from Marine Crescent and MacDonald Street - west side;
Marguerite Street between King Edward and Nanton Avenues;
Vancouver City Hall at 12th Avenue and Cambie Street - north entrance - 6 trees - picnic spot;
West 61st Avenue from Ontario to Manitoba Streets - both sides
Eastside:
East 5th Avenue (3000 block) from Lillooet to Nootka Streets - both sides
Mid-March to mid-April
Yoshino - 'Akebono' and Somei-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. More about the Yoshino...
Westside:
Stanley Park Rose Garden - picnic spot;
Stanley Park north of the tennis courts and around the Pitch & Putt Golf course
Burrard Street Skytrain Station - lovely display of 'Akebono' Yoshino;
Kitsilano Beach - Yew and Cornwall Streets;
Kitsilano Beach - in the parking lot median off Arbutus Street;
Kitsilano Beach - near tennis courts at Arbutus Street side of park - 3 trees;
Vancouver Museum - parking lot and courtyard at back of Museum - picnic spot;
Median of Point Grey Road between Trutch and Blenheim Streets - 5 trees;
University of British Columbia: Lower Mall at Nitobe Garden (23 Somei-yoshino trees and 2 very young 'Akebono' Yoshino);
West 38th Avenue from Blenheim to Dunbar Streets - plus 1 row of 'Takasago';
West 39th Avenue (3400 to 3500 blocks) from Dunbar to Blenheim Streets - Yoshinos on south side, Tai Haku on north side;
West 42nd Avenue (3400 block) at Collingwood - very old Yoshino's on southside, Plums on northside;
West 51st Avenue at Yew Street in south east corner of Maple Grove Park;
West 63rd Avenue (500 block) from Cambie Street to Ash Street - Yoshino's on north side, Pissardii's on south side;
West 16th Avenue (700 to 900 blocks) between Heather and Oak Streets - north side
Queen Elizabeth Park west entrance at Cambie Street and West 33rd Avenue - picnic spot and group of 'Akebono' Yoshinos west of Quarry Garden near the parking lot;
Queen Elizabeth Park West 29th Avenue side of park (southeast of the Quarry Garden) - 2 trees
Eastside:
Charles Street (2100 and 2200 blocks);
Venables Street (2300 block) at Nanaimo Street;
East 6th Avenue (2600 block) from Penticton to Slocan Streets - both sides;
Graveley Street (3100 block) at Lillooet Street - 'Akebono' Yoshino trees both sides - showstopper street;
East 25th Avenue (3600 block) from Kootenay Street to Boundary Road - both sides;
Shirotae -- Prunus 'Shirotae'
Small flat-topped umbrella shaped tree with slightly fragrant semi-double pure snow-white blossoms. More about the Shirotae...
Westside:
Stanley Park Japanese Canadian WW1 War Memorial - with Yoshino trees - picnic spot;
Stanley Park at south shore of Lost Lagoon - 2 trees;
West 1st Avenue (1800 block) between Burrard and Cypress Streets - 5 trees on south side;
Queen Elizabeth Park west entrance at Cambie Street and West 33rd Avenue - several trees west of Quarry Garden near the parking lot;
Queen Elizabeth Park (West 29th Avenue side of park) - 2 trees
Sargentii 'Rancho' -- Prunus sargentii 'Rancho'
Very upright tree with delicate light pink, single flowers with deeper pink stamens. More about the Sargentii Rancho...
Westside:
Queen Elizabeth Park (West entrance at Cambie Street and West 33rd Avenue near the parking lot) - 1 old tree wild variety
Eastside:
East 43rd Avenue from Knight to Inverness Streets;
East 57th Avenue from Main to Ontario Streets - both sides
Takasago -- Prunus serrulata 'Takasago' (also known as Prunus x sieboldii)
Small, compact, vase-shaped tree with gnarled limbs. Pale pink semi-double flowers, becoming almost white. More about 'Takasago'...
Westside:
Comox Street at Nelson Park to Stanley Park - a few trees in each block;
Creelman Avenue (1900 block) between Cypress and Maple Streets - 3 trees and Plums;
West 38th Avenue from Blenheim to Dunbar Streets - plus 1 row of Yoshino;
West 39th Avenue (1900 block) at Cypress Street - 3 Takasago and 2 Kanzan;
Laburnum Street (5000 block) at West 39th Avenue - 1 Takasago and 1 Kanzan;
Vine Street from West 41st to West 49th Avenues - with Kanzan on both sides of street;
The Crescent - 1 tree on the east side
Hillier's 'Spire' Flowering Cherry -- Prunus x hillieri 'Hillier' (also known as Prunus 'Spire)
Very rare in Vancouver, this slender upright tree with shiny, copper-coloured bark produces small pale pink flowers with a darker pink centre. More about Hillier's 'Spire' Flowering Cherry...
Eastside:
Memorial
South Park - south side of East 41st Avenue just east of Prince Albert
Street - 3 trees
Tai Haku -- Prunus serrulata 'Taihaku'
Large wide-spreading tree with large, bowl-shaped, single pure white flowers. More about Tai Haku...
Westside:
Burrard Street between West 1st Avenue and Cornwall Avenue - 2 trees;
West 16th Avenue median betwen Crown and Wallace Streets - across from Lord Byng High School;
West 39th Avenue (3400 to 3500 blocks) from Dunbar to Blenheim Streets - Tai Haku on north side, Yoshinos on south side;
Blenheim Street (5400 to 5600 blocks) between West 38th and West 40th Avenues - east side;
Balsam Street (5700 block) at West 41st Avenue - west side plus 2 trees in 5800 block
Avium (double-flower and single flower trees) -- Prunus avium
Our tallest flowering cherry in Vancouver, this large tree with broad spreading branches is beautiful when laden with rows of pure white flowers. More about the avium 'Plena'...
Westside:
Highbury Street from West 1st to West 4th Avenues - west side of street;
Pine Crescent (5000 to 5100 blocks) from West 34th to West 36th Avenues - both sides of street;
Olympic Street (5500 to 5600 blocks) from West 39th to West 41st Avenues (double flowered 'Plena') - showstopper street;
West 29th Avenue from Cambie Street to Dinmont Street - north side;
Heather Street from West 37th to West 41st Avenues;
West 65th Avenue from Adera to Granville Streets
Eastside:
Hastings Community Centre (3096 East Hastings Street) - 2 avium 'Plena' and 1 Kanzan;
East 51st Avenue from Fraser to Ross Streets - both sides;
Elgin Street (6300 block) from East 47th to East 49th Avenues - avium 'Plena' on east side, Kanzan on west side;
East 35th Avenue at Windsor Street - Sweet Cherry and Kanzan;
Canadian National Railway Station between Station and Main Streets - very old 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. More about the Ukon...
Westside:
MacDonald Street with West 1st Avenue and Point Grey Road (in the triangle formed at the intersection);
West 16th Avenue from Blenheim to MacDonald Streets - in the median with Kanzan on both sides of street;
West 7th Avenue (4400 block) between Trimble and Sassamat Streets - south side (with 1 Shirofugen and 1 Kanzan);
West 35th Avenue (3100 block) from Carnarvon to Balaclava Streets - 2 Ukon, Kanzan, Shogetsu and Shirofugen;
Cypress Street (5200 block) at West 37th Avenue - on the corner with 1 Sweet Cherry (white, single-flower) next to it;
MacDonald Street (5200 block) at West 37th Avenue - 1 on east side with Kanzan on both sides of street;
Queen Elizabeth Park West north side of Pitch & Putt Golf Course - several old trees
Kanzan -- Prunus serrulata 'Kwanzan'
Vase-shaped cherry tree with very showy, large vivid purplish-pink double flowers hanging in clusters. This is one of the most popular ornamental cherries in Vancouver and planted in large numbers. More about the Kanzan...
Westside:
West 7th Avenue (100 to 300 blocks) from Main to Yukon Streets - both sides;
Yew Street from Cornwall Avenue to West Broadway - both sides - showstopper street;
Median of Point Grey Road (3100 block) between Trutch and Balaclava Streets;
Dunbar Street from West 4th to West 7th Avenues - both sides;
West 16th Avenue from Blenheim to MacDonald Streets - both sides;
Dunbar Street at West King Edward to West 16th Avenue;
West 33rd Avenue from MacDonald to Vine Streets;
West 35th Avenue (3100 block) from Carnarvon to Balaclava Streets - Kanzan, Ukon, Shogetsu and Shirofugen;
Trafalgar Street between West 35th and West 41st Avenues - with Shogetsu;
West 35th Avenue (2000 block) from East Boulevard to Pine Street - showstopper street;
Larch Street (5900 block to 6200 blocks) from West 43rd to West 47th Avenues - both sides;
West 60th Avenue from Angus Drive to Granville Street - Kanzans alternating with Plums;
West 62nd Avenue from Angus Drive to Adera Street - Kanzans alternating with Plums;
West 64th Avenue from East Boulevard to Adera Street - both sides;
Chancellor Boulevard from Acadia Road to East Mall - Kanzan trees planted on the median with spring flowers planted under many of them
Eastside:
East 61st Street between Ontario and Main Streets;
Elgin Street (6300 block) from East 47th to East 49th Avenues - Kanzan on west side, Sweet Cherry 'Plena' on east side;
East 57th Avenue from Main to Ross Streets;
Inverness Street from East 55th (7100 block) to East 61st Avenues - both sides. Purple-Leaved Plum trees in East 58th block;
East 49th Avenue from Fraser to Prince Edward Streets - grove in cemetary;
Hastings Community Centre (3096 East Hastings Street) - 1 Kanzan and 2 Sweet Cherry 'Plena';
Graveley Street (2800 block) btween Renfrew and Kaslo Streets;
Charles Street (2000 to 1700 blocks) from Lakewood to Commercial Drives - both sides;
Nootka Street (1000 to 1200 block) between Charles and Parker Streets;
East 3rd Avenue from Renfrew to Rupert Streets - Kanzans alternating with Purple-Leaved Plums;
East 7th Avenue (2900 to 3100 blocks) between Renfrew and Windermere Streets - showstopper street;
Rupert Street from East 14th to East 28th Avenues - both sides including median;
Prince Albert Street (4900 to 5300 blocks) from East 33rd to East 37th Avenues - both sides;
East 35th Avenue at Windsor Street - Kanzan and Sweet Cherry - showstopper street;
East 53rd (2000 to 2200 blocks) from Nanaimo to Victoria Streets - both sides;
Gladstone Street (6900 block) from East 54th to East 49th Avenues - both sides alternating with Plums;
Nanaimo Street (6400 to 6000 blocks) from East 49th to East 45th Avenues;
East 49th Avenue from Killarney to Nanaimo Streets - both sides;
East 49th Avenue (2300 to 2900 blocks) from Nanaimo to Lancaster Streets;
East 49th Avenue from Victoria Drive to Dumfries Street
Shogetsu -- Prunus serrulata 'Shogetsu'
Flat-topped spreading tree with arching branches. Large semi-double pure snow-white or faintly pink flowers. More about the Shogetsu...
Westside:
The Westin Bayshore (1601 Bayshore Drive at Coal Harbour) - row of young Shogetsu trees along the east side wall;
West 35th Avenue (3100 block) from Carnarvon to Balaclava Streets - Shogetsu, Ukon, Kanzan and Shirofugen;
Trafalgar Street between West 35th and West 41st Avenues - 1 young Shogetsu with Kanzan on both sides of street
Shirofugen -- Prunus serrulata 'Shirofugen' (also known as Prunus 'Fugenzo')
Wide-spreading tree with a flattened top. Spectacular double, pure white flowers fading to pink hang in long drooping clusters. More about the Shirofugen...
Westside:
The Westin Bayshore (1601 Bayshore Drive at Coal Harbour) - east of the main entrance;
Southeast Corner of Blanca Street and West 10th Avenue;
Spanish Banks Park at Northwest Marine Drive west of the snack bar - group of trees;
West 35th Avenue (3100 block) from Carnarvon to Balaclava Streets - Shirofugen, Ukon, Kanzan and Shogetsu;
Crown Street (5500 block) at West 39th Avenue - 6 trees west side;
Median of West King Edward Avenue between Wallace and Crown Streets - 1 tree;
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.
In 2004 I began to record which ornamental cherry and plum trees listed
in this book were still standing. Unfortunately some of the street tree
locations he listed no longer had the trees. Since 2004 I have been adding
new streets to his original list as I discover them.
Kuitert, W. 1999. Japanese Flowering Cherries, Timber
Press, Portland, Oregon.
An excellent reference for identifying the different varieties of Japanese
flowering cherries with 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 2010 May 8