The National Park Service said Wednesday that green buds have appeared on the Tidal Basin’s cherry trees, the first of the six steps toward peak bloom.
The D.C. trees started showing green buds on the same date a year ago, with peak bloom happening on March 28.
This year, the National Park Service said it expects peak bloom, which is defined as when 70% of the cherry blossoms are open, to come between March 29 and April 1.
The National Mall and Memorial Parks account posted a picture of the buds on X.
LET’S GO! Small green buds are appearing on the Yoshino cherry trees, marking the 1st of 6 stages on the way to peak bloom.
— National Mall NPS (@NationalMallNPS) March 11, 2026
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Learn more: https://t.co/Yd0Z1y1FHD#Cherryblossom #BloomWatch #WashingtonDC pic.twitter.com/dNzuGKrYXy
Some 400 new cherry trees have been planted along the Tidal Basin, replacements for trees removed ahead of the restoration work on the seawall in the same area. The National Park Service said it’s keeping the area that saw restoration work between the Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Jefferson memorials closed off.
The closures, the agency said Thursday, are “essential to allow new plantings to establish and thrive.”
At the announcement of the projected peak bloom dates, Kevin Griess, superintendent of the National Mall and Memorial Parks, said, “I just ask everyone to respect our areas that we block off so that the trees that we are planting get a chance to grow and thrive. Don’t hang on them. Don’t take one home, you know, for a momento, please.”
The restoration work on the Tidal Basin seawall and nearby walkways finished eight months early and under budget, according to the National Park Service. Mr. Griess said a grand reopening would be scheduled sometime after the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which will run from March 20 through April 12.
• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.
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