cherry blossoms in Toronto

This may be the last weekend to see the cherry blossoms bloom in T.O.

Cherry blossom season has been as amazing as ever this year, but we knew it had to end eventually — and resident cherry blossom bloom predictor Sakura Steve (also known as Steve Joniak) is predicting that this will be the last weekend to see the Sakura trees in peak bloom in Toronto.

Resident cherry blossoms bloom predictor Sakura Steve (also known as Steve Joniak) visited the buds in High Park this week and noted that over 80 per cent of blossoms are still open. However, he saw signs that peak bloom is going to end soon.

“I already saw leaves beginning to grow out on many trees, which usually signifies there are only a few days left before the blossom petals start to fall,” he wrote.

Joniak also noted that it’s been raining all week and the forecast calls for rain this weekend, which will cause the petals to fall faster. He’s still standing by his original prediction — that, by Saturday, the blossoms will begin to fall throughout the weekend.

That timeline is not out of line with the city’s history; in the past, peak bloom often lasted only eight days, and as few as five days some years as well. Peak bloom began on April 20 this year, so a nine day bloom is still pretty great.

The city of Toronto has stated that vehicle access and parking will be restricted within High Park for the duration of peak bloom, so head over on foot or on bike if you want to enjoy the last of the blossoms.

There are Sakura trees all over Toronto, so we’ve rounded up five of the best places in Toronto to spot the cherry blossoms during the end of peak bloom.

High Park


High Park is a staple spot for people to spend time outside, enjoying a walk, picnic and, around this time of year, cherry blossoms! The trees grow along the park’s main path, allowing you to step off the sidewalk and snag a few photos before continuing on your way. Standing at a whopping 399 acres, High Park is chock-full of different rare plant species. Within the grounds are also rare black oak savannah, moist red oak and hemlock forests. So feel free to adventure all over, searching for flowers at different stages of growth!

Trinity Bellwoods


For some of the best cherry blossom photos with the C.N. Tower in the background, head over to Trinity Bellwoods. These trees are placed scarcely, spanning across a 38-acre lot of land. Most of the trees can be found on the circular path, which resides in the southern portion of the park. Around here are benches and copious amounts of shade, allowing you to sit underneath one of these beautiful trees and enjoy Toronto’s incredible spring scene.

Yorkville Park

A bit of a hidden sakura gem, and a personal favourite of mine, is Yorkville Park. The trees are grown in linear succession, placed outside of cafes and fashion boutiques. Here is where you’ll have the best opportunity to sit and relax under the trees with minimal camera attention from strangers. Shops in this area range from large, well-known brands such as Lululemon and Chanel to small boutiques like 119 Corbo and Free People. Feel free to kick back, enjoy a coffee and maybe drop some dough. At least the fit pics afterward will be killer!

Centennial Park


This particular park has the second-largest collection of cherry blossoms in Toronto, next to High Park. The park holds over 200 trees that are scattered across the entirety of the land. The highest concentration can be found in the garden closest to Rathburn Road and Centennial Park Boulevard. The park is home to athletic activities galore. Within its grounds are playgrounds, soccer fields, baseball and softball diamonds, a wading pool and even a BMX bike park!

Exhibition Place

This may surprise some, but cherry blossoms are scattered around one of Toronto’s most fantastic attractions. Exhibition Place features around nine marked sections where sakura grows, with the majority residing in the northeastern part of the area. The highest density can be found near the kid-friendly Medieval Times show or the Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex. While searching for sakura, why not check out a Toronto F.C. game?