The Okame is the earliest flowering cherry. Historic horticulturist Henry Skinner introduced the species to the U.S. during his time at Morris Arboretum in Philadelphia in the mid-1900s. But it wasn’t until the 1980s that people started propagating the deep pink English flower locally. Today, you’ll find the tree planted on streets of Philly with its tolerance for “relatively tough urban planting situations,” Aiello said.

Standing up to 30 feet tall, with cascading branches covered in pale pink petals, Pendula weeping cherry trees are commonly found in lawns and parks. These blossoms were among the diverse flowering trees available at local nurseries following Philadelphia’s 1876 Centennial Exhibition. Today, clusters of them can be seen in West Fairmount Park and along the Schuylkill.

In spring, Autumnalis cherry trees begin to flower just as Okames reach their peak. Unlike most cherry varieties, Autumnalis bloom again in the fall—as their name suggests—and can even flower sporadically through the winter. With more petals than the typical five found in cherry blossoms, their flowers appear denser, creating a more vibrant pink display. Aiello suspects the tree, which has been grown in the U.S. since the early 1900s, arrived in Philadelphia sometime in the 1910s or early 1920s. According to the city’s tree inventory, Philadelphia gained 51 new Autumnalis compared to last year, with many of these planted around Fishtown.

Yoshinos are the most common variety, often the first that come to mind when most folks think of cherry blossoms because it’s one of the most widely planted in the U.S., Aiello said. This species arrived in Philadelphia in 1926 for the Sesquicentennial International Exposition, where the Japanese government donated 1,600 trees. Yoshinos make up about 70% to 80% of the cherry tree varieties in Philly, Teune said, sitting in parks, lawns, and on streets. What makes this tree stand out is the number of flowers crowded into every branch for a cloud of white to pale pink, almond-scented petals enveloping the tree.

While they aren’t that common in Philly, you’ll find a handful of Mt. Fuji cherries in North Philly. The tree blooms as the Yoshino tree begins to fade. Look for the brilliant white flowers — the vibrant color comes from the additional, large petals — to identify this cherry tree.

With their cotton candy-pink blooms, Kwanzan cherry trees are hard to miss. Each flower, packed with dozens of petals, adds to the tree’s showy appearance. Planted throughout the city—from Rittenhouse to Spring Garden—they can be found in parks, along streets, and near rowhouses. “There are a couple other [trees] later, but it really marks the end,” Aiello said. “To me — because I look forward to the season so much — it's the finale of flowering cherries for the year.”