The University of Washington encourages the community to appreciate the renowned Quad cherry blossoms on campus this spring. The 29 cherry trees situated in the University of Washington Quad typically attract significant crowds and are expected to reach optimal bloom during the third week of March, and this year is likely to adhere to that schedule.

Rising temperatures and temperate weather impact when the cherry trees begin to blossom and when they achieve full bloom. The UW’s Bloom Watch is frequently updated to reflect the present blossom stages, including forecasts for peak bloom.

The renowned Yoshino cherry trees at UW commonly bloom from March through April, yet accurately predicting the exact dates for potential visitors presents an annual obstacle. To enhance the forecasting, a research team at UW is analyzing historical weather patterns dating back to 1966, along with observational data gathered by students, to determine the timing of peak blooming — while also examining how climate change affects that timeline. Once the trees hit peak bloom — defined as when at least 70% of the flowers have opened — cooler temperatures, arid conditions, and minimal wind will extend the duration that the blossoms remain on the trees.

“Our research indicates that in Seattle, due to our relatively mild and warm winters, there has been a noticeable delay in bloom time over the last sixty years,” stated Autumn Maust, a doctoral candidate at UW in the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences. “The bloom time seems to be shifting slightly later.”

This is primarily because cherry trees require both chilling and warming units — accumulated during periods of cooler and warmer spring temperatures — to surpass a threshold that propels them through the bloom phases. According to Maust, mild winters lead to an extended time needed to reach the necessary chilling units.

Numerous types of blooming cherry and plum trees are found throughout the Seattle area, with certain species’ blooms visible from early February up until May. The colors of the blooms vary from white to light rose to deep pink, and cherry trees — unlike plums — exhibit distinct horizontal patterns on their bark referred to as lenticels. These structures assist the trees in “exhaling” or releasing carbon dioxide and water.

However, there is no need to wait for peak bloom to visit campus; the season is already in progress. The UW maintains a visitor’s webpage featuring updates regarding the state of the blooms, as well as information on transportation, activities, and amenities. The Quad cherry blossoms also have dedicated social media accounts on Instagram and X. Enthusiasts who cannot visit are welcome to follow UW Video’s live webcam overlooking the Quad, alongside a virtual tour featuring images from campus and tweets from @uwcherryblossom.

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For further details or to arrange an interview, please reach out to Dana Robinson Slote: [email protected] or 206.457.6058