THE LEAFLET

Peak Bloom sometimes feels like a citywide holiday in DC. Cherry blossom trees lining the Tidal Basin inspire themed drinks, clothes, and food, not to mention all the photographers, tourists and locals that pause on their way to snap a picture of those beloved blossoms. Thankfully this weekend’s cold snap shouldn’t be a problem for the famous Yoshino cherries but what about trees that bloom before them?

Don’t get us wrong, we love cherry trees around here, but there are also so many more trees to enjoy come spring. Many trees from the American Linden to the magnolia produce gorgeous flowers and blossoms! Now to figure out where to find these majestic blooms. How about our handy, dandy Trees Near Me map?

Here are some of our favorite early bloomers you can scout out in your neighborhood:

Eastern Redbud | Cercis canadensis

A local favorite found in forests, fields and yards – the redbud usually blooms in late February or March. Small, pinkish-purple flowers are produced in unbelievable profusion along the branches (and even on the trunk) before the leaves appear. A fast grower, redbuds can reach 15 – 25 feet in height in approximately 15 years. For this reason, it is often planted under power lines – a plus in a city like ours. Not only are redbuds available through our residential planting program RiverSmart Homes, and you can also get up to $50 back for planting this tree yourself through our tree rebate program!

Okame Cherry | Prunus x incamp ‘Okame’

Flowering much earlier than other cherries, the Okame cherry displays carmine-pink blossoms in the late winter or early spring. You’ve probably seen them around town! Deep green foliage in the spring and summer turns to a stunning bronze in the fall. You can get up to $50 back for planting this tree yourself through our tree rebate program.

Hawthorn | Crataegus sp.

The hawthorns are a splendid group of native trees (220 species native to North America alone!) that provide white spring blooms. Hawthorn has much lore and a variety of historical uses, including as traditional Mayday festivals in Northern Europe, as a medicine for high blood pressure and their fruit is traditionally to make jams and jellies. Don’t let the thorns on some of those Hawthorns scare you off. This tree has a rich cultural and ecological history is a beautiful addition to any landscape! And you guessed it – you can get $50 back for planting many species of tree yourself through our tree rebate program.

Red Maple | Acer rubrum
Typically known for its fiery red leaves, did you know the Red Maple’s delicate blooms are red too? Red maple is one of the best named of all trees, featuring something red in each of the seasons—buds in winter, flowers in spring, leafstalks in summer, and brilliant foliage in autumn. With its showy nature coupled with its tolerance of a multitude of soils, it’s no wonder it’s one of the most popular planted trees. This tree is available through our residential planting program, RiverSmart Homes. Since this will grow into a large shade tree, it’s eligible for up to $100 back for planting this tree yourself through our tree rebate program.

How did we get all the locations and species of all these trees? Our Trees Near Me map contains practically every tree we have data for – trees that the city has planted in street tree spots, trees we’ve inventoried, and trees we’ve planted at our Community and School Tree Plantings.