The first pink blooms have started to appear, marking the start of one of Brooklyn’s most enchanting springtime events: cherry blossom season! This season usually reaches its peak in April and May, with each tree staying in full bloom for only about a week. Our guide covers the best spots to see the blossoms while they last, including Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Prospect Park, McCarren Park, Sunset Park, Green-Wood Cemetery, and beyond.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Brooklyn Botanic Garden has some of Brooklyn’s most beautiful cherry blossoms, with more than 200 cherry trees in total throughout its various gardens. Don’t miss their Cherry Esplanade in full bloom, which is lined with over 75 pink-flowering Kanzan cherry trees. You can keep tabs on the blooms with BBG’s CherryWatch tracker, which is updated daily. Starting April 1, the garden opens early Friday–Sunday: 8am-6pm and opens early and late Tuesday–Thursday: 8am-8pm. Admission is $22/adult, $16/students 12+ with ID, and free for children under 12.
Here are more ways to enjoy the cherry blossoms at Brooklyn Botanic Garden:
- Get tickets for Hanami Nights, April 22–25. The cherry blossoms on Cherry Esplanade will be lit up for maximum effect. Try your hand at origami, and view a curated display of bonsai in the Lillian and Amy Goldman Atrium. Tickets sell out fast!
- Weekends in Bloom, starting April 26, will feature pop-up music and dance performances, morning programming for kids and families in the Discovery Garden, and Garden tours.
- During the week, bring your little ones to Spring First Discoveries, a program for the garden’s youngest patrons on Wednesday & Friday mornings.
Prospect Park
You can find a gorgeous collection of cherry blossom trees in Prospect Park by entering at Grand Army Plaza and walking the path to Long Meadow. Take a glimpse at last year’s blooms here!
Brooklyn Bridge Park
Brooklyn Bridge Park, spanning the waterfront in DUMBO and Brooklyn Heights, bursts into bloom in the spring. You will find a little grove of flowering cherry blossoms at Pier 2 Uplands, the green space overlooking Pier 2.
Cadman Plaza Park
Cadman Plaza Park in Brooklyn Heights has a few different varieties of flowering trees, with some particularly vibrant blooms near the Brooklyn War Memorial.
Green-Wood Cemetery
Green-Wood Cemetery is actually an accredited arboretum, and has an impressive collection of trees, including magnolias and Higan cherry blossom trees. Make a day of it, and check out one of cemetery’s public programs. The cemetery is open daily from 7am to 7pm, free of charge.
Sunset Park
Sunset Park has many flowering Kanzan (or Kwanzan) cherry trees. This is the same species you’ll find at Brooklyn Botanic Garden, which produces fluffy, pink petals.
Maria Hernandez Park
Maria Hernandez Park is Bushwick’s largest park, and has a large collection of cherry blossom trees that create a beautiful display every year. The park is also home to some magnolia trees, making it a great springtime destination.
Updated: April 1, 2025. Main Image: Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Cherry Esplanade.
