Cherry Blossoms on Capitol Campus

Two types of flowering cherry trees grow on Capitol Campus. The trees typically begin to bloom in late March.

Bloom watch

Four illustrations depicting the different phases of the cherry blossom bloom cycle: dormant, budding, early bloom, peak bloom.

The Yoshino cherry trees are leafing. These trees reached peak bloom in late March.

An overhead view of a grassy grove of cherry trees south of the Legislative Building. A watercolor icon indicates these trees are leafing.
The Yoshino tree grove is located south of the Legislative Building. Photo captured April 22, 2026.

The Kwanzan cherry trees are blooming. These cherry trees usually reach peak bloom in mid-April to early May.

A wide view of Cherry Lane, a street lined with cherry trees. A watercolor icon indicates these trees are blooming.
The Kwanzan trees line both sides of Cherry Lane. Photo captured April 22, 2026.

Do your part

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 take a bunch of photos of the blossoms and tag Washington State Capitol Campus on social media!

About our cherry trees

There are two types of cherry trees on Capitol Campus: Yoshino flowering cherry trees and Kwanzan flowering cherry trees.

Yoshino: first to bloom

A wide shot of the Yoshino flowering cherry tree grove blooming with pale pink flowers and the Legislative Building in the background. Capitol Campus visitors are taking photos in the grassy areas under the trees.
The Yoshino cherry grove south of the Legislative Building.

The Yoshino flowering cherry trees are among the first trees on campus to bloom each spring. Their flowers are pale pink to white, and they look like snow when they fall.

You'll find a large grove of Yoshino cherry trees just south of the Legislative Building and smaller grove near the Tivoli Fountain and North Diagonal.

Kwanzan: late bloomers

Kwanzan Flowering Cherry tree
Kwanzan cherry trees in a row on Cherry Lane.

The Kwanzan flowering cherry trees typically bloom about one to two weeks after the Yoshino cherry trees. These flowers are bright pink and add a nice pop of color to Capitol Campus.

You'll find the Kwanzan cherry trees along Cherry Lane, the street to the just east of the Legislative Building and Temple of Justice.

History of the trees

Cherry trees have decorated Capitol Campus for nearly 100 years. 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.

In Western Washington’s climate, these trees are in midlife. We expect them to live 75-100 years. The Department of Enterprise Services’ grounds staff prune the trees yearly to give the limbs the space they need to put on their seasonal show. Pruning, fertilizing and—as a last resort—applying chemical treatments can keep the cherry trees blooming for decades.

Just like their blossoms, these trees don't last forever. Over the years, our staff has planted younger, healthier trees to take the place of their ancestors to ensure that cherry trees will bloom on Capitol Campus for decades to come.