Searching for the best places to spot flowers in Cleveland in the spring?
Spring is a magical time to be in Cleveland. With the first blooms of daffodils, tulips, and bluebells signaling the turn of the season and sunnier days ahead, it’s time to look forward to getting outdoors again.
If you are searching for a pretty outdoor adventure this spring, then you’ll want to check out these spots for flowers in Cleveland!
10 Best Places to Find Spring Flowers in Cleveland
Of course, you can certainly find flowers all over the place in Northeast Ohio during the spring months, but I narrowed this down to specific places around the area that are known for vibrant floral displays!
1. Lakeview Cemetery
12316 Euclid Ave, Cleveland | For: Daffodils, magnolia trees, and more
Lakeview Cemetery, next to Little Italy and University Circle on the east side of Cleveland, is a serene spot that pays homage to the great Victorian cemeteries of Europe. It is the resting place of many of Cleveland’s most famous residents including President James A. Garfield, John D. Rockefeller, and Alan Freed (who coined the term “rock and roll”) – and it’s also absolutely gorgeous in the spring!
Lakeview Cemetery is full of colorful trees and flowers pretty much year-round, including deep red Japanese maples in the autumn, vibrant azaleas in late spring/early summer, and soft pink magnolia trees and white and yellow daffodils in the spring months.
While there are several reasons to visit this iconic Cleveland cemetery, Daffodil Hill in the spring is certainly near the top of the list. Thousands of daffodils bloom along a large hillside in the cemetery, and draw lots of locals during the spring.
Daffodils are typically in bloom between late March and mid-April. Check their website for bloom updates.
2. Brookside Reservation
3900 John Nagy Blvd, Cleveland | For: Cherry blossoms
We’ve seen photos of gorgeous cherry blossoms blooming around famous places like the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC, or Mount Yoshino in Japan, but did you know you can see these soft pink and white blooms in Cleveland, too?
This Cleveland Metropark is home to more than 100 Yoshino cherry trees that were planted in the 1990s, as a gift from the Japanese Association of Northeast Ohio. You can stroll along “Blossom Lane” to see the trees lined up and full of these colorful blossoms.
Enjoy the sights and smells of the cherry blossoms before exploring the various wildflowers in the rest of the 132-acre Brookside Reservation.
Cherry blossoms in Ohio can start blooming anytime from late March through early May (in recent years they’ve started blooming in April or May, though in 2024 the bloom might begin as early as late March!), and the blossoms usually last on the trees anywhere from 1-3 weeks, depending on weather.
3. Wade Lagoon
10820 East Blvd, Cleveland (University Circle) | For: Flowering trees
Located in University Circle, Wade Lagoon is home to several cultural centers including the Cleveland Museum of Art, Case Western Reserve University, and Severance Hall.
The best part about visiting Wade Oval in the spring, though, is paying a visit to the lagoon to enjoy the cherry blossoms in full bloom!
There aren’t as many cherry trees here as you’ll find at Brookside Reservation, but there are still plenty, alongside some other flowering trees that make for a very colorful spring scene.
Catching peak bloom is always a dream, which can happen anytime from late March until mid-May. (Last year, peak bloom here was in April; the previous two years, it didn’t come until early May, in 2024, it might begin in late March!)
Follow University Circle’s Bloom Tracker for the most up-to-date info on Wade Lagoon.
RELATED: The Best Places to See Cherry Blossoms in Cleveland
4. Cleveland Botanical Garden
11030 East Blvd, Cleveland (University Circle) | For: Everything!
While you’re out being awestruck by the cherry blossoms at Wade Oval, walk on over to Cleveland Botanical Garden to admire the multitudes of flowers also in bloom.
Anytime from March-November, you’re very likely to see various wildflowers and plants showing off their colorful hues.
In the springtime, you can spot hellebores, primrose, tulips, and hyacinth in the outdoor gardens.
5. Bedford Reservation
Hemlock Creek Picnic Area, 14800 Button Rd, Walton Hills | For: Virginia bluebells
Bedford Reservation is a fantastic spot to check out wildflowers in Cleveland! This place has a lot to offer as part of the Cleveland Metroparks system, including great trails for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking, as well as waterfalls and the Tinkers Creek Gorge Overlook.
Wildflowers can be spotted here from spring through to fall. However, in the spring, this place truly blossoms with a vast array of Virginia bluebells.
These delicate little flowers can be spotted in many places around the Cleveland Metroparks, but the Hemlock Creek Picnic area of Bedford Reservation is one of the best spots to see these flowers blanketing the forest floor. You can go for a walk through the bluebells alongside Tinkers Creek, and probably not encounter a whole lot of other people.
Expect to see the bluebells around early May.
6. Rocky River Reservation
Rocky River Nature Center, 24000 Valley Pkwy, North Olmsted | For: Wildflower garden
Rocky River Reservation is home to the Hauser Wildflower Garden, a maintained garden at the Rocky River Nature Center that is alight with wildflowers like violets, bloodroot, and trout lily in the spring.
Along with the Hauser Wildflower Garden, the Willow Bend and Cottonwood Picnic areas are also popular places to see wildflowers in the springtime.
7. Cleveland Cultural Gardens
10823 Magnolia Dr, Cleveland (University Circle) | For: Flowering trees and spring flowers
One of the coolest parks in Cleveland has to be the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. These are a collection of 30+ gardens designed and maintained by various cultural groups in the city. Each garden is unique, and together they are meant to foster “peace through mutual understanding.”
Each garden is decorated with flags and statues dedicated to the countries they represent, and many also include plants from all around the world. It’s no surprise, then, that you can expect to see many trees, shrubs, and flowers all over.
If you visit during the spring months, you’ll be sure to see lots of flowers and trees in bloom!
RELATED: A Guide to Enjoying the Cleveland Cultural Gardens
8. Rockefeller Park Greenhouse
750 E 88th St, Cleveland | For: Tulips and irises in spring
At the north end of the Cultural Gardens, you also don’t want to miss stopping in at Rockefeller Park Greenhouse in the spring. This lovely greenhouse and series of outdoor gardens is completely free to visit year-round.
In the spring, you can enjoy the Spring Bulb Show indoors, tulips planted outside, and of course the beautiful Willott Iris Garden.
9. Holden Arboretum
9550 Sperry Rd, Kirtland | For: Everything!
Holden Arboretum is an exciting place to explore throughout the spring, summer, and autumn months. In the spring, you can start to see life come back into the trees along the Murch Canopy Walk and Kalberer Emergent Tower (both of which re-open for the year on April 1st).
Plus, there are many wildflowers in bloom on the forest floor below like Virginia bluebells, netted iris, primroses, and even some wild lupine.
Explore this area anytime in the spring months to spot wildflowers and enjoy the canopy walk and tower. (Read about our visit here.)
10. Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Various trails | For: Daffodils, bluebells, and more
Cuyahoga Valley National Park has lots of beautiful places to enjoy spring native wildflowers.
Wander any of the 125+ miles of trails throughout the park in the spring months, and you’ll be sure to see Virginia bluebells, purple cress, trillium, violets, bishop’s cap, and many more.
Note: The flowers here are beautiful, but picking wildflowers in the national park is strictly prohibited.
If you would like to find more daffodils in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, check out Furnace Run MetroPark, where you can hike along Daffodil Trail, a 0.8 mile trail home to over 40,000 daffodils that were planted in the 1930s.
If it’s bluebells you’d like to see, the Furnace Run Trail and the Deer Run Trail in O’Neil Woods MetroPark (within Cuyahoga Valley National Park) are both excellent spots to see lots of Virginia bluebells.
These wildflowers can be spotted all throughout the spring months, with some more species popping up in the summer. For the daffodils, be sure to visit in early spring, while bluebells usually bloom by early May.
RELATED: The Best Hiking Trails in Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Bonus: Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens
714 N Portage Path, Akron
While this mansion is very popular around the holidays for its elaborate decorations and light displays, you can actually visit throughout the year!
With several gardens across the sprawling 70-acre estate, there will most certainly be flowers to enjoy.
In the spring, you can see peonies off the west terrace, multitudes of colorful daffodils and tulips in the Breakfast Garden, and various wildflower species like bloodroot, trillium, and twinleaf in the Dell Garden.
For the springtime flowers, visiting the month of April is a great idea to see as many as possible!
READ NEXT: The Best Places to Enjoy the Great Outdoors Near Cleveland
Which place do you most enjoy spotting flowers in Cleveland?
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Kat is a Cleveland transplant and has lived here for over 5 years. She loves to eat, drink, and explore all across the city, and has made it her personal mission to find the best breweries and pizza in Northeast Ohio. She also runs a couples travel blog and podcast called World Wide Honeymoon.