One of the best things about the Spring season is seeing spring buds develop and some early flowers start to bloom – including of course, cherry blossoms. Cherry blossoms in Ontario are beautiful – but the season is so short so get out there to see them.
Cherry blossoms bloom in gorgeous hues of pink and white in late April to early May. Because it’s such a short blossom time, it’s worth a drive to one of these places in Ontario to see the cherry blossoms!
The cherry blossom, or sakura, is the flower of trees in in the flowering plant family Rosaceae .”Sakura” usually refers to flowers of ornamental cherry trees. While the cherry trees are common in East Asia, especially Japan, they are also widely sprinkled throughout the North America.
These delicate pink flowers have a cultural significance that has been celebrated for centuries in Japan. The blossoms bloom for only a short time, signifying the beauty and fragility of life and the transience of human existence. The custom, called Hanami, encourages people to come together to appreciate the present moment and find beauty in the passing of time. It’s a moment to savour, surrounded by friends and family amid the delicate petals.
Many of the cherry trees in Ontario were donated by through the Sakura Project, which saw 3,082 trees planted at 58 locations across the province as a symbol of friendship between the two countries.
Here are the best spots to see cherry blossoms in Ontario.
Toronto
High Park is probably the most well-known spot to view the cherry blossoms, and it’s busy! The stunning Sakura trees line along the High Park Trail and around the Grenadier Pond. The trees were given as a gift from Tokyo’s citizens to Toronto for their support of Japanese-Canadian refugees after the Second World War in 1959. There is no access by car through High Park on the weekends so surrounding areas fill up quickly.
Trinity Bellwoods, one of the biggest green areas downtown, is a favorite among picnickers, dog owners, and sports enthusiasts. Out of the around 400 trees in the park, 70 are Sakura trees, located in the southern section. When these trees bloom, it creates a breathtaking sight, especially with the CN Tower in the background.
The beautiful cherry tree canopy at Exhibition Place is a sight to behold and tends to be less crowded than High Park and Trinity Bellwoods. You can find the cherry trees near the Princess Margaret Fountain and just north of the Princes’ Gate.
Centennial Park in Etobicoke has the second-largest cherry blossom tree collection in Ontario. There are about 460 trees that can be enjoyed along Rathburn Road, Centennial Park Boulevard and northeast of Centennial Park Conservatory. There is free parking in Centennial Park, and you can walk to view the trees however there are no paved pathways. Most of the cherry blossom trees in the Northeast corner.
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Peel Region
To avoid the crowds in nearby Toronto, head west to Mississauga’s Kariya Park which boasts 65 cherry blossom trees. Named in honour of Kariya, Mississauga’s sister city in central Japan, Kariya Park is a serene Japanese-inspired garden featuring a pond, boardwalk and pavilion. With two sides, one for Mississauga and the other for Kariya, the pavilion stands as a symbol of the friendship between the two cities. The bridge over a pond is a sweet spot for pictures, giving you a great view of the pavilion, pond, and trees. You’ll also find red Japanese maples, hyacinths and tulips in spring bloom, a marsh containing Japanese irises, rhododendrons, and magnolia trees. There are different flowers in bloom so there’s always something new to see when visiting. Make sure to also see the Friendship Bell, a gift from Kariya which is between both sides of the pavilion.
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Niagara Region
There are a few places to delight in the blooming of cherry blossom trees. The Botanical Gardens in Niagara boast meticulously tended gardens, a lovely Victorian rose garden, and an extensive herb section. There are also magnolia trees that you may be able to enjoy right before the cherry blossoms. Linked to the Niagara River Recreation Trail, McFarland Park offers a walking trail, playground, and picnic pavilion. McFarland House, one of the region’s oldest buildings, is a charming tearoom to visit and admire the cherry blossoms.
You can also see cherry blossoms along the Niagara Parkway, throughout the charming Niagara-on-the-Lake, at The Gardens at Pillar and Post and outside of the Prince of Wales Hotel. There are also some cherry blossoms in front of the Laura Secord Monument and near the Queenston Heights Restaurant.
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Ottawa
In Ottawa, the Dominion Arboretum is a lovely spot to see the fleeting beauty of cherry blossoms. These fragile trees adorn the Arboretum with their pink and white fluffy flowers along Prince of Wales Drive. On the east side of Confederation Park, nestled between the Ottawa River and the Rideau Canal, there is a small grove of cherry blossom trees to admire. It’s worth a visit along with the numerous sculptures and monuments. If you happen to cross the Alexandra Bridge over the Ottawa River and stop at Jacques Cartier Park on the border of Ontario and Quebec, you’ll be able to view the Sakura trees while listening to the soothing sound of flowing water. Ahhh such zen!
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Hamilton, Halton, and Brant
Hamilton, Halton, and Brant regions are celebrated for their abundance of waterfalls and scenic nature trails along the Niagara Escarpment. Each spring, folks can also revel in the sight of cherry tree blossoms at various parks and gardens in the area.
Spencer Smith Park boasts 50 cherry trees generously donated by Itabashi, Burlington’s sister city in Japan. These trees are strategically planted to create a cool tunnel effect along the walking path. The park overlooks Lake Ontario and the downtown shoreline, making it an enchanting spot for photo opps. The area is worth a visit to enjoy Sakura trees while exploring the boardwalk, pier, playground, and Japanese-inspired garden.
The Royal Botanical Gardens’ Arboretum hosts the largest collection of flowering cherry trees, located just south of the lilac dell. The Sakura cherry blossoms can also be found at the Rock Garden and scattered throughout the terraces of Laking Garden overlooking Grindstone Creek. In addition to cherry blossoms, the gardens boast crabapples, lilacs, and magnolias.
The entrance walkway of Bayfront Park in Hamilton is lined with majestic cherry blossom trees, a gift from Japan to the city. Locals and visitors alike are drawn here to stroll among the delicate white blooms. Gage Park is another spot for a spring outing, featuring several mature cherry blossom trees near the Tropical Greenhouse. You could also check out Centennial Park, adorned with nearly 40 cherry trees, courtesy of a generous donation from the Toyo Eiwa Jogakuin School in Japan. The park attracts locals and visitors alike, eager to witness the brief yet beautiful blooms of these cherry trees.
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