When will Duke Gardens’ cherry blossoms bloom? Here’s what to know about visiting
Visiting Duke Gardens during one of the facility’s busiest seasons could be more difficult this year amid a major construction project.
Last year, around 155,000 people visited the gardens in March, the month when the popular cherry trees bloom, Lauren Smith Hong, the communications director for Duke Gardens, told The News & Observer in a phone call.
A similarly large crowd could make the trip this year, but visitors will not have the same experience as in years past.
That’s because work is underway on the Garden Gateway, a $30 million project that includes a new welcome center with a cafe, gallery and upgraded restrooms, The News & Observer previously reported.
Here’s what to know about seeing the cherry blossoms this year.
When are the cherry trees expected to bloom?
Pinpointing the date when the trees’ flowers arrive is difficult, Smith Hong said.
But the best guess, as of publication, is that the blooms will be in view toward the middle of the month, around Monday, March 17.
Visitors can check Duke Gardens’ website (gardens.duke.edu/cherry-blossoms) to see daily photo updates and soon, watch a livestream of the cherry allée.
Last year, peak bloom was around March 20, 2024.
Can I park at Duke Gardens to see the cherry blossoms?
Because of the Garden Gateway construction, there’s no visitor parking on weekdays. Anyone who wants to visit Duke Gardens Monday through Friday is encouraged to get to the property by bus, bike or some other means.
On Saturdays and Sundays, visitors may use the Duke University H lot, Smith Hong said. It’s located on Anderson Street and Yearby Avenue.
However, visitors can’t enter the cherry allée 9 a.m.-7 p.m. on weekends during bloom. The allée dead ends at a construction entrance, so there is only one place for visitors to enter and exit the tree-lined path. Largest crowds are expected on Saturdays and Sundays, and the space is too narrow to accommodate so many visitors, Smith Hong said.
Do I need tickets to the Duke Gardens cherry blossoms?
Admission is free, and there are no tickets.
Visitors who want to see the cherry trees on weekends will be able to line up at the entrance to the allée to see the blooms and take photos.
During construction, pedestrians may enter the gardens at 2000 Lewis St., a block north of the main entrance. Outdoor areas of Duke Gardens are open 8 a.m. until dusk daily during construction.
Is the cherry allée the only place to see the blooms?
The cherry allée has a concentration of cherry trees, but others are scattered throughout the 55-acre botanic garden.
View a map of other cherry trees worth seeing at gardens.duke.edu/cherryblossoms.
Will construction affect visiting the cherry blossoms next year?
No. Construction is expected to be completed ahead of the peak cherry blossom bloom in 2026.
This story was originally published March 3, 2025 at 11:57 AM with the headline "When will Duke Gardens’ cherry blossoms bloom? Here’s what to know about visiting."
