Last updated on September 25th, 2023 at 01:29 pm
Believe it or not, the DMV region is truly one of the best places to experience spring in the country. With the onset of March comes a dramatic change in landscape. The once bare trees now can’t stop flaunting their fresh floral drapes. It is indeed the season that brings joy and hope of warmer weather and the longer days ahead.
Cherry Blossoms remain a favorite of Washington, DC but did you know that there is a lot more to explore in terms of spring flowers here. Think tulips, lilies, magnolias, roses, sunflowers, and more. Yes, we’re here to tell you where to find all these magical places and when. The typical bloom times mentioned below is based on our experience in the past several years. However, keep in mind that the exact bloom timing is dependent upon weather conditions.
TIP: Each one of these spots below will make for a perfect photoshoot location, scroll the photo gallery to see the entire collection. This blog post is broken down by flowers and their bloom times i.e. earliest bloomer to the later ones. So without further adieu, here’s where you want to go to find the best flower fields in the DMV.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.
MAGNOLIAS
Spring tourists in DC often mistakenly identify Magnolia blossoms as Cherry blossoms. These two flowers are, in fact, quite distinct. Magnolia trees blossoms a couple of weeks ahead of Cherry trees and Magnolia flowers are also much bigger in size than Cherry. I personally love the fragrance of Magnolias over Cherry blossoms. So if you head to DC ahead of peak blossom then keep an eye out for these glorious magnolia flowers at these spots.
- Edin A. Haupt Garden, DC
- Rawlins Park, DC
- Dumbarton Oaks, DC (Currently closed but check the website for re-opening)
- Brookside Garden (especially for the yellow Magnolia varieties)
Typical Bloom time – Mid March
Entrance Fee – FREE except Dumbarton Oaks
CHERRY BLOSSOMS
We’ve written an in-depth post about the best spots to find Cherry Blossoms in DC with helpful tips for first-time visitors. In short, the best time to visit DC for Cherry Blossoms depends on the weather conditions so check the NPS website for peak bloom before planning your trip. Here’s a list of a few spots with splendid views of Cherry Blossoms in DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
- Tidal Basin, DC (Prime spot for Yoshino cherry trees)
- US Capitol Grounds
- US Arboretum, DC
- Dumbarton Oaks, DC (Currently closed)
- Hains Point/East Potomac Park, DC (Especially for Kwanzan cherry trees)
- Kenwood, Bethesda, MD (for Yoshino cherry tree tunnels)
- Old town Alexandria, VA (Cherry trees adorning historic houses and alleys)
Typical Bloom time – End of March to Mid April
Entrance Fee – FREE except Dumbarton Oaks
TULIPS
As the Cherry Blossom season is reaching its end, the tulips pick up. Now DMV tulips are not even close to the Keukenhof Garden in the Netherlands (which, by the way, you must visit once in your lifetime!) but we sure do have some incredible views with strategically planted tulip bulbs in the city. Below are a few places in DMV to view the best of tulips.
- Floral Library, DC (Tulips with Washington Monument backdrop)
- Netherlands Carillon, DC (Tulips with DC landmarks backdrop)
- US Botanic Garden (Tulips with Capitol Hill backdrop)
- Navy Merchant Memorial Park, DC (Tulips with DC landmarks)
- Burnside Farms, VA (Tulip fields)
- Brookside Gardens, MD (Tulip Garden)
- Sherwood Gardens, Baltimore, MD (Tulip Garden)
Typical Bloom time – Mid April to Early May
Entrance Fee – FREE except Burnside Farms
WISTERIAS
On a summer trip to the UK almost a decade ago, I was introduced to these low-hanging purple floral bunches adorning Tudor houses. It was love at first sight with Wisterias. I’m keeping my eyes open for these spots below to report back to you all how DMV carries it’s wisterias.
- National Gallery of Art, DC
- Brookside Gardens, MD (Wisteria tunnel)
- Dumbarton Oaks, DC (Currently closed)
Typical Bloom time – Mid April to early June
Entrance Fee – FREE
LAVENDER
Talking about purple, how can one miss Lavender. Once the tulip season ends in May, the fragrant and vivacious lavender season starts. Here are your best options to find lavender fields in the DMV region and I’m hoping to make it to at least one of them this season.
- Seven Oaks Lavender Farm, VA (Open May 31st through July 7th)
- Soleado Lavender Farm, MD (Farm will re-open June 1st)
- Springfield Manor Lavender Farm, MD (Lavender Fest June 12-13th, 2021)
Typical Bloom time – End of May to early July
Entrance Fee – Check the farm’s website for their entrance fee
LOTUS & WATER LILIES
Did you know DC has its very own Aquatic Garden? Very much so, this garden is filled with lotus and water lilies. Pro Tip: Kenilworth Garden is also a popular birding spot in the spring and summer seasons.
- Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, DC
Typical Bloom time – Late June to July
Entrance Fee – FREE
ROSES
A rose by any other name would smell as sweet. Shakespeare’s famous lines will ring in your head as you walk past a fragrant garden filled with rose bushes. Here are a few places to catch a variety of roses in the DC area.
- Kathrine Dulin Folger Rose Garden, DC (next to Enid Haupt Gardens)
- US Botanical Garden, DC
- Brookside Gardens, MD (Has an entire Rose Garden area)
- Bon Air Park Rose Garden, VA
Typical Bloom time – Mid May throughout summer and until fall
Entrance Fee – FREE
SUNFLOWERS
This one is technically a peak summer bloomer so consider it a bonus. Washington DC metro region has a few spectacular sunflower fields that you must check out.
- McKee Beshers Wildlife Management Area, MD
- Clear Meadow Farms, MD
- Burnside Farms, VA
Typical Bloom time – Mid July to August
Entrance Fee – FREE
Where to Stay
Below are some hotels in Washington DC that are perfect for exploring all the different spring flowers in the DMV area.
- Courtyard Marriott D.C
- The Wink D.C
- Hyatt Place National Mall D.C
- The Westin at Reston
- Sheraton at Reston
- Aloft by Dulles Airport
- Hilton Garden Inn Dulles
- Airbnb
You can also search for more hotel and accommodation choice via TripAdvisor, CheapOAir, and Momondo.
More Things to Do in the DMV
Find fun and unique things to do on Get Your Guide while you’re in the area!
Explore Washington DC & Surrounding Area
- A Perfect day trip itinerary from DC: Explore Nature, Winery, and Geology, all in one day
- Best wineries in Maryland which are close to DC
- The Best Indian Restaurants in DC – Where and What Indian food to eat
- Narmada Winery – A boutique wine tasting experience near Washington DC
In closing, if you didn’t know about my flower obsession, well, now you do! It goes without saying that I have explored almost all of these places and the ones that I haven’t will be checked off very soon. Or I may even add more flowers to this post as my quest continues. To see more photos from my spring obsession follow us along on our Instagram Page.
Did I miss anything? Do share your thoughts and suggestions with us. Hope you enjoy a blissful spring this year with appropriate safety measures. Don’t forget to pin this post for later and share it with family and friends.
Happy Flower Hunting!
