March 13, 2015
2015 UW cherry tree watch: Full bloom by March 14
Blossom update: 100 percent in bloom as of March 14. Follow @uwcherryblossom for more info.
Cherry blossoms on March 13.
The cherry trees in the Quad at the UW reached full bloom March 14.
Exact timing always depends on the weather — if we have sunny, warm days, the trees reach full bloom faster, but colder weather stretches out the timing. Still, full bloom by mid-March is about a week earlier than most years, according to Sara Shores, the UW arborist.
Depending on the weather, the blossoms will likely stay on the trees for at least two weeks, maybe three.
Cherry trees in the Quad, March 13.
The Quad cherry trees were moved from a location near the Montlake Bridge and planted in 1962 when they were already more than 20 years old. The trees, now probably about 80 years old, are in good health and likely will make it to a century, Shores said.
“They’re doing fantastic for their age,” she said.
Aside from the iconic Quad trees, you can find other varieties of cherry trees blooming at different times around campus. Large trees near Gerberding Hall will bloom after the Quad trees, and a new stretch of young trees planted last year between Gerberding and Drumheller Fountain will also blossom a little later.
Plum trees, which look similar and are blooming furiously now in early March, typically come before the cherries.
For the latest cherry tree updates follow @uwcherryblossom on Twitter, check the UW Facebook page or contact the UW Visitors Center at uwvic@uw.edu or 206-543-9198.
