Where to see cherry blossoms in Los Angeles

Witness the springtime bloom at the La Cañada Flintridge garden. You’ll find the beautiful pink-flowering trees, in the Japanese garden and promenade (where you can also spot the first tulips of the season). As of March 2, the Okame blossoms are on their way out, but you can find lots of Pink Cloud blossoms in bloom. Meanwhile, the Akebono and Beni Hoshi blossoms (the delicate ones by the Japanese garden’s creek) have yet to bud. Make sure to check the garden’s bloom status (or Descanso’s Instagram) before making your plans.

It’s tough to pick a favorite themed area at the Huntington, but the Japanese garden makes a pretty strong argument for the top spot—especially during cherry blossom season. Look to the subtropical garden–adjacent entrance, as well as the path to the ceremonial teahouse, to see Pink Cloud cherry trees. The less-crowded path outside of the Chinese garden is dotted with Okame blossoms, too. Throughout the gardens, you’ll also see pinkish peach, redbud, plum and apricot blossoms that might get less attention but are still every bit as photogenic. On March 2, the Huntington announced on its Instagram that its cherry blossoms have reached full bloom, so catch them while you can. 

Set a course for this Palos Verdes landmark to spot some blossoms this spring. You can follow South Coast’s blog for bloom updates, though you should be able to easily spot them on your own while you’re there. An early cherry blossom bloom (beginning back in January) means the flowers might already be starting to dwindle, but you can still catch lots of blooms in the rose garden and Sakura Meadow. Keep an eye out for other fruit trees, like peach and plum, blooming in all shades of pink throughout the garden. Just make sure you have a reservation before you go.

Who knew you could get your cherry blossom fix in the heart of DTLA? Gloria Molina Grand Park boasts a collection of two dozen Pink Cloud cherry blossom trees, which were planted during the Cherry Blossom Centennial to symbolize a century of friendship between Japan and the U.S. Dubbed Sakura Grove, the trees are located in the block of the park closest to City Hall. They’re typically in bloom in mid-March, filling the park with color right before the official beginning of spring. 

Note: The Japanese Garden is currently closed for construction and will reopen in April (hopefully while the cherry blossoms are still in bloom).

This popular lake and picnic spot in the Valley springs to life each March as cherry blossoms color the path around the lake’s perimeter. (Also, just to be clear, since the neighborhood is also called Lake Balboa, you’ll find the actual lake and surrounding park just inside of the corner of Victory and Balboa Boulevards, north of the L.A. River.) The lake sits just down the block from another key blossom spot: the Japanese Garden, a recycled oasis that’s fed by the water reclamation plant next door. You can find some beautiful cherry blossom trees on a little path just past the admin building. According to the garden’s staff, the full bloom typically occurs late March and into April.