Ready for spring? So are the Capitol’s flowering cherry trees

| By DES Communications

Yoshino Flowering Cherry tree
Yoshino flowering cherries located south of the Legislative Building and northeast of Tivoli Fountain.

Two types of flowering cherry trees grow at the Capitol Campus, and their blooms are ready to burst forth.

Here at our internationally accredited arboretum, every tree has a story. And every story has a beginning, middle, and ending.

The beginning

The original Kwanzan cherry trees were planted on Cherry Lane in 1932, just four years after the Legislative Building’s completion.

The Yoshino cherry trees were a gift from a Japanese businessman in 1984 to honor the state’s close ties to Japan.

The Kwanzans’ rosy bouquets contrast with the paler blooms of the Yoshino cherry trees, which usually burst first.

The middle

Department of Enterprise Services’ grounds staff prune the trees yearly to give the limbs the space they need to put on their seasonal show. Following state and federal guidelines, we occasionally apply chemical treatments to prevent or halt infestation and infection. Pruning, fertilizing and—as a last resort—treatments can keep the cherry trees blooming for decades.

The Yoshino trees are planted on a gentle slope that allows for good drainage. In Western Washington’s climate, these trees are in midlife. We expect them to live 75-100 years.

The end

Just like their blooms, the trees don’t last forever. When rot reaches limbs, our staff remove them. And when it’s traveled into vital parts of the trunk and root, we’ve removed the trees entirely. We don’t want a branch, a limb, or a whole tree falling on anyone.

Kwanzan Flowering Cherry tree
Kwanzan cherry trees in a row on Cherry Lane, where ornamental cherries have been grown since 1932.

Our staff removed four of Cherry Lane’s 19 trees in 2023. These 30-year-old Kwanzans replaced the originals, which were established in 1932. Genetics and wet winters have shortened these Kwanzans’ lifespans.

In 2020 we removed one of the younger Yoshinos, which suffered a fatal condition called girdling root, from the area north of the John L. O’Brien building.

In both areas, we’ve planted replacements to take the place of their ancestors, ensuring that cherry trees will bloom at the Capitol Campus for decades to come.

Be a hero in their story. Are you planning to visit the trees this spring? Please keep the following in mind:

  • Don't break off blossoming branches. The blooms will fade quickly, but the damage is lasting. Broken limbs stress the trees and present a pathway for disease, shortening their lifespans.
  • Do tag Washington State Capitol Campus when you post photos of the blossoms on social media. Here’s a handy link. And welcome to the Capitol!