UW Cherry Blossoms to Reach Peak Bloom This Week

Seattle's beloved sign of spring arrives right on schedule.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 2:54pm

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Researchers at the University of Washington predict the campus's famous cherry blossom trees will reach peak bloom on March 20, 2026, marking the arrival of spring in Seattle. The 29 pink trees typically reach full bloom when 70% of the blossoms have opened, though the week before and after are also great times to visit and see the iconic flowers.

Why it matters

The cherry blossoms are a beloved annual tradition in Seattle, drawing thousands of visitors to the UW campus each spring to admire the delicate pink flowers. While the bloom timing has shifted later over the past six decades due to warmer Seattle winters, the trees remain a true indicator of the changing seasons.

The details

UW doctoral student Marlee Theil explained that the cherry blossom buds need to accumulate a specific amount of "chilling units" before they can start accumulating "heating units" to wake up from dormancy. With Seattle's milder winters, this process takes longer, resulting in a later peak bloom. A UW research team studied bloom patterns dating back to 1966 to develop a temperature model for predicting future blooms.

  • The cherry blossoms are predicted to reach peak bloom on March 20, 2026.
  • Historically, peak bloom has fallen between March 12 and April 3, with an average date of March 23.

The players

Marlee Theil

A UW doctoral student of Environmental and Forest Sciences who explained the science behind the cherry blossom bloom cycle.

Autumn Maust

A recent doctoral graduate from the UW School of Environmental and Forest Sciences who led the research on historical bloom patterns.

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What they’re saying

“The buds need to accumulate a specific amount of chilling units before they can start accumulating the heating units. When it is not as cold, the chilling units accumulate much slower, so it takes them longer to wake up from dormancy, which is very counterintuitive.”

— Marlee Theil, UW Doctoral Student (UW News)

“Our objective in the study was to detect any patterns in shifts of bloom time ranging back from 1966, which is the first record we have of the cherry trees on campus, up until the present day.”

— Autumn Maust, Recent UW Doctoral Graduate (UW News)

What’s next

Visitors can find the cherry blossoms in UW's quad, an open space in the middle of the campus. For more information on the best way to travel to the campus and to see a live cam to gauge optimal blossom viewing, visit UW's website.

The takeaway

The delayed peak bloom of the UW cherry blossoms highlights how climate change is impacting the natural cycles of the seasons, even for iconic landmarks like these beloved trees. However, the blossoms remain a cherished sign of spring in Seattle, drawing visitors from near and far to admire their delicate beauty.