Illustration
State guide
When to catch District of Columbiathrough the year
We follow 3 places in District of Columbia for wildflowers, cherry blossoms and tulips: spring at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens and US National Arboretum. Each timing below is the place's own source, in its words; none is a forecast.
When are you going?
Fall in District of Columbia
Good in fall
- Kenilworth Aquatic GardensSummer flowers
- Kenilworth Aquatic GardensBirding (leaves off the trees)
- US National ArboretumHolly berries (autumn)
Open places and seasons from each place's sources; no peak claimed.
Winter in District of Columbia
Good in winter
- Kenilworth Aquatic GardensBirding (leaves off the trees)
Open places and seasons from each place's sources; no peak claimed.
Spring in District of Columbia
- USUAL PEAK · CHERRY BLOSSOMSBetween the last week of March and the first week of AprilWashington, DC · District of Columbia
- SEASON · WILDFLOWERSLate May through SeptemberKenilworth Aquatic Gardens · District of Columbia
- SEASON · CHERRY BLOSSOMSEarly March to late April, a few groups of trees at a timeUS National Arboretum · District of Columbia
- ONE SPOT · TULIPSEmerging sometime in early to mid AprilWashington, DC · District of Columbia
Summer in District of Columbia
Good in summer
- Kenilworth Aquatic GardensSummer flowers
- Kenilworth Aquatic GardensLotus
- Kenilworth Aquatic GardensLotus and Water Lily Festival
- US National ArboretumAzaleas on Mount Hamilton
- US National ArboretumEvergreen magnolias (high summer)
- Washington, DCFourth of July
Open places and seasons from each place's sources; no peak claimed.
Places in District of Columbia
Pin color: each place's season now or next
- Spring
Places on this map, as a list
Planning a District of Columbia trip
Towns to stay in
Sources: National Park Service · US National Arboretum · checked Sep 27 · How we know