Finally! The cherry trees are in bloom in Montreal, and this week is the time to take a long lunch break on a sunny day, pull out that camera we got as a Christmas gift but don’t use enough, and go breathe in the sweet scent of cherry blossoms under a tree near our home.
We’ve waited for spring long enough (too long), but the end of May 2026 is forecast to be mild and sunny. For the trees, it’s flowering season, and in addition to the cherry trees, keep an eye out for the magnolias and serviceberries.
In May, it’s the dramatic blooming of flowering trees. We have a few recommendations for enjoying the (very short) peak blooming season of Montreal’s cherry trees and other flowering trees.
A map to identify flowering trees near us
There’s an almost-secret map that lets you see all of Montreal’s public trees—so you can plan your morning walks or after-work strolls based on which blooming trees you want to see.
The Centre for Biodiversity Science in Quebec (CSBQ) has created an interactive map that lists all of Montreal’s trees, by species and subspecies, in collaboration with the City of Montreal.
It’s a serious, color-coded map that brings us a little closer to the science of biodiversity in a city we’ve forgotten is so green.
On the map, we recommend looking for:
- Japanese cherry trees(Prunus serrulata)
- Magnolias(Magnolia Grandiflora)
- the Serviceberry(Amelanchier Canadensis)
- Crabapple trees(Malus baccata)
The best places in Montreal to see cherry blossoms
To read a book in a park under a cherry tree in bloom, to soak up the sun, to sketch the flowers or take photos of them, there are a few spots in Montreal that are just perfect.
- at Westmount Park
- at the Botanical Garden
- at Jean Drapeau Park
- at Ahuntsic Park