A magical springtime experience that draws visitors from near and far.
The cherry blossoms in the Cherry Allée are no longer in bloom. Some cherry tree varieties are still blooming in other areas of the Gardens–map of other cherry trees.
Visitors can expect some important changes to cherry blossom viewing this year due to construction of the Garden Gateway project. Here are things to know before you visit:
Visitors will enter the Gardens on foot through a temporary pedestrian entrance located at 2000 Lewis Street, one block north of the Gardens’ main entrance (follow the signs along Anderson St.). You may also enter through garden gates leading to Duke’s West Campus along Flowers Drive.
There is no visitor parking on weekdays during the construction period. Parking is only available on the weekend in nearby campus lots, including the Duke University H lot. We encourage visitors to use alternative transportation whenever possible, including walking, biking, taking the bus and rideshare.
If you are planning to arrive by car, please visit on the weekend when visitor parking is available in nearby campus lots, including the Duke University H lot, which is adjacent to the temporary Lewis St. entrance. Please note that the only payment option is the PayByPhone app on personal phone devices. Cash and credit card are not accepted.
Cherry blossom viewing is an annual tradition in many cultures. In Japan, this practice is known as hanami (花見,“flower viewing”) and usually involves picnics and other outdoor gatherings with friends and family during cherry blossom season to celebrate their ephemeral beauty and enjoy the present moment.
For many people, photography is an important way to commemorate this special time. Please visit our photography page to learn more about taking photos in the Gardens.
We also encourage visitors to be considerate of the plants and wildlife that call Duke Gardens home by following all Gardens policies. To enjoy the cherry trees, we must also care for the cherry trees. During your visit, please help us by:
March 28, 2025. Sadly the blossoms on the Cherry Allee have finished blooming. Farewell, beautiful blossoms! Until next year. Several cherty tree varieties are still blooming in other areas of Duke Gardens, so be sure to check those out.
We’re officially signing off from daily bloom updates until 2026. A huge thank you for joining us on this spring journey!
Ornamental cherries belong to the genus Prunus, an incredibly diverse group represented by many different plants throughout Duke Gardens. Many Prunus species closely resemble cherries and may bloom at or around the same time depending on the weather. Here is a simple field guide to help you distinguish ornamental cherries from any of their close relatives you might observe during your visit.
Join us on a virtual guided tour of cherry blossoms at Duke Gardens to learn more about these incredible trees and expand your bloom knowledge.
Take a photo of one of our beautiful “Cherry Check-in” trees for a chance to win a Duke Gardens family-level membership and goodie bag. Click to learn more!
Please contact us at gardens@duke.edu.