Week of March 24
Last week marked the official start to spring, and campus has begun to bloom with colors and scents of the season. Below are locations of where to find the most recent blooms in the WashU Arboretum.
Okame and Yoshino Cherry Tree Allées
Both cherry tree allées (tree lined corridors) on the Danforth Campus are in bloom!
Found between the Sever-Lopata arch to the end of Crow and Cupples I, the Okame Cherry trees smell sweet and flash gorgeous light pink flowers that are extremely attractive to honeybees. Cherry trees have a relatively short lifespan and this allée was replanted in the fall of 2024. The arboretum team is pleased to report that they’ve flowered!
Lining the stairs between Olin Business School and WashU Law, the Yoshino Cherry tree allée is a beautiful tree with slightly fragrant, pinkish white flowers. This tree is an important part of the National and International Cherry Blossom Festivals and its planting in Washington D.C. is a symbol of friendship between Japan and the U.S.
Magnolias
Magnolias have begun to emerge from their oversized fuzzy buds. The Danforth Campus is home to 47 magnolia varieties, many of which feature unique flowers. They are recognizable for their large petals and sweet fragrance. Magnolias can be seen in numerous locations on campus but are prominently featured along the Trinidad Alley between the DUC and Simon Hall.
The bloom at right is from a hybrid magnolia found between Urbauer and Crow halls.
Red Buds
Sporting uniquely shaped hot pink (or, in one variety on campus, white) flowers that will bloom in abundance on both twigs and directly from the branch, these trees stand out on campus for their beauty.
Eastern redbuds on campus are just beginning to bloom this week. The tree at right can be found south of Eads Hall and Holmes Lounge.
