Blossom trackers
Each cherry blossom area in High Park is represented with a chart below to show the average amount of buds and blossoms are currently visible. Buds are shown as yellow, cherry blossoms are pink, and leaves / bare branches are green. You can even hover (mouse) or tap (finger) each colour area to view the percentage (%) value.
Last Updated May 10, 2024
Tracker colour Legend
Buds
(tracks % of buds near opening)
Cherry Blossoms
(tracks % of flowers visible)
Leaves/Branches
(tracks % of leaves/branches visible)
Cherry Hill (near Grenadier Restaurant)
Sports Fields (near Bloor St Entrance)
By Grenadier Pond & Dock
Fugenzo (Late Bloomers)
Children's Playground / High Park Zoo
Bud to Bloom Stages
Predicting exactly when the sakura cherry trees bloom is always a bit tricky from year to year. Fluctuating and extreme weather conditions will significantly affect bud development. Weather plays a pivotal role in determining if the bloom dates will vary from a few days or even weeks beyond average times. Typically, peak bloom throughout High Park occurs between the weeks of late April and early May.
Stage 1
Buds begin to show bronze colour
Late February to mid-March
Stage 1: The first signs of development show small to medium-sized buds. They can range from chestnut brown to bronze in colour. Healthy buds have an elongated, 'egg' '-like shape. In years of extreme weather, damaged buds instead look long and thin, with a less bulbous shape.
Stage 2
Buds change to green colour
Late March to early April, an Average 16-22 days to Peak Bloom
Stage 2: Green tips now begin to be visible on the buds. Red or brown shades can usually be seen near the tips of each bud. Buds are still in an early stage and well protected from the cold weather which can slow down the development.
Stage 3
Buds swell and Florets are Visible
Early to mid-April, an Average 10-15 days to Peak Bloom
Stage 3: Larger, round green buds begin to swell and become more pronounced in size and shape as the florets start to show. Some buds even begin to display spots of deep pink.
Stage 4
Buds continue to swell with Florets emerging
Mid-April to early May, Average 5-10 days to Peak Bloom
Stage 4: As buds have swollen to their largest size, florets emerge and elongate. Each floret represents a cherry blossom, which will fade through colours of deep pink to white once they are fully open.
Late April to early May, an Average 3-7 days to Peak Bloom
Stage 5: Florets now fully extend (Peduncle Elongation) and display the beginnings of individual blossoms with combinations of deep and bright pink colours. Now extremely vulnerable, frost or sudden drops can damage or even kill the blossoms at this stage, as happened in 2008 when a sudden cold snap resulted in no flowers blooming that year.
Stage 5
Florets turn pink and begin to extend
Stage 6
Blossoms open with white petals
Final Stage in Late April to Early MaY
Stage 6: The highlight of the Sakura // Cherry Blossoms when the pink florets open into bright, white blossoms throughout the park. Each park area starts to bloom within a day or so apart. Peak (full) bloom offers an inspirational spectacle for all to see for the next 1-2 weeks (weather permitting).
