It’s almost time for the District’s saucer magnolia trees to start flowering, and it’s one of our favorite times of the season – you get all the beauty of spring blooms without the chaotic crowds that come with the cherry blossoms’ peak bloom.
That being said, because these flowering trees are often overlooked amidst the sudden boom of spring blooms around the District, we’ve taken the liberty of listing off our favorite places around D.C. to see these saucer magnolias in bloom before it’s too late!
The Enid A. Haupt Garden at the Smithsonian Castle
This is probably the most popular viewing spot for magnolia blooms in the District, but for good reason!
The views of the dozen or so blooming saucer magnolia trees make for one of the most iconic images of the season: a shot of the Smithsonian Castle through the branches filled with blooms.
The Dumbarton Oaks garden
Famous for its lush gardens that draw crowds every spring, inside Dumbarton Oaks are several mature saucer magnolia trees that are about to produce some stunning pink blooms!
Inside the National Arboretum
With a collection dedicated to holly and magnolia trees, the National Arboretum is one of the most tranquil spaces in the District, where you can enjoy these stunning spring blooms away from the chaos and crowds.
There are actually a variety of magnolia trees here, so you’ll be able to enjoy a variety of colors, flower shapes, and trees at various stages of their bloom during your visit.
At Indiana Plaza
The Grand Army of the Republic Memorial at Indiana Plaza is home to several spring blooms: daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths fill the garden spaces, and the park’s canopy is made up of mature saucer magnolia trees!
Near Bryce Park
Located near the National Cathedral, the saucer magnolias in Bryce Park have a stunning backdrop and are only a short walk from the Bishop’s Garden at the National Cathedral, which is where you can see some of the most beautiful flower blooms around the District every spring.
At Rawlins Park
Located in Foggy Bottom, just a few blocks from the White House, is a small park filled with stunning saucer magnolias that line a long rectangular fountain at the center of the park.
