In the middle of the bustling metropolis that is the Greater Toronto Area, one of the region’s most gorgeous natural displays sits waiting to bloom. High Park is full of sakura trees on Cherry Hill and in surrounding areas, and residents wait eagerly for updates from the High Park Nature Center to let them know when to expect the flowers to bloom.

When to Visit?

The trees bloom by late April or early May. Blooming time is affected by everything from temperature to wind speeds, and even the sakura blossoms’ appearance changes depending on the weather.

Blooming periods last for about two weeks, with warmer weather accelerating the blooms, and rainy weather shortening the blooming period entirely. High Park is often very crowded during the blooming period, with families, couples, and even solitary travelers dropping by to appreciate the park’s beauty. If you want to skip the crowds, consider taking a ferry to Toronto’s Centre Island. The island has about 30 sakura trees that bloom at the same time as those in High Park, and they’re very easy to find sitting just 10 minutes away from the ferry docks.

If you decide to visit Toronto’s gorgeous sakura trees, please be respectful to the nature that’s around you. Breaking branches off the sakura trees is not something you should be doing, and definitely do not litter in the park. If you have young children or want to bring your dogs to the park during the blooming period, consider going on a weekday morning when the park is likely not going to be busy so that you can enjoy a picnic while you’re there!