Best Places to See Cherry Blossoms Without Leaving the Midwest

My younger sister has been living and going to college in Philadelphia for the past four years. In the spring she tries to go check out the cherry blossoms around the city.

Without fail, every time she sends photos of the flowers to our family, I get a bit jealous.

Why does she get to live in a place with so many cherry blossoms?

Can Cherry Blossoms Grow in the Midwest?

If only the Midwest had some cool places to check out these flower that is native to Japan.

It turns out, there are actually quite a few spots in our neck of the woods that have cherry blossoms.

Cherry blossoms or cherry trees can be grown and found in Iowa, but they are hard to come by, according to Iowa State University officials.

While the Cherry Blossom Tree originated in East Asia, they now can be found all over the world. From Seattle, San Francisco, Boston, the beautiful plant can be found in some of the biggest cities in the country.

Where is the Cherry Blossom Capital of the World?

Macon, Georgia is widely considered the cherry blossom capital of the world, according to Mental Floss. 

How Long Do Cherry Blossoms Bloom?

The cherry tree only blooms for a brief period of time, it will stay in bloom for maybe one or two weeks.

They typically bloom right around the last week of March or the first week in April, according to the National Park Service.

What Climate is Best for Cherry Blossoms?

They also thrive in climates that have very distinct seasonal changes. Cherry blossoms require both cold winters and warm springs in order to thrive, according to reports.

I did some digging and found a great list from AFAR on some of the best spots in the country for cherry blossoms. A few of them are actually located right here in the Midwest.

Best Places to See Cherry Blossoms in the Midwest

Missouri Botanical Garden (St. Louis, Missouri)

4344 Shaw Boulevard

Admission: Free for children 12 and under, $6 for locals, and $16 for tourists

Ohio University (Athens, Ohio)

1 Ohio University 

Highway M-37 (Traverse City, Michigan)

Where to See Cherry Blossoms in Chicago

The city of Chicago is home to quite a few prime cherry blossom spots. Here are a few of the most popular locations for you to check out the flowers.

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Jackson Park Cherry Blossoms (Chicago, Illinois)

4830 S. Western Avenue

Chicago Botanic Garden

1000 Lake Cook Road
Glencoe, IL

The Morton Abortorium

4100 Illinois Route 53
Lisle, IL

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