Timeline for Flowering Trees in London

April showers bring May flowers

Well, we certainly had plenty of rain (and snow) in April and have been rewarded with an abundance of flowers this May. While area trees took a while to get started, there has been a steady stream of blossoms all month. Yellow, white, orange, pink, and purple; all colours you can find in London’s flowering trees.

Not that all those flowering trees bloom at once. We are blessed to have a progression of flowers which brighten the landscape, followed closely by the next blaze of blossoms from another species of flowering tree or shrub once the earlier ones are spent.

While I’m sure you have your favourites, here are just a few of the area trees and shrubs which bloom over the course of May. Which have we missed?

Timeline of Flowering Trees in London

Forsythia usually starts the show with its yellow blossoms in late April into early May

Magnolia trees start blooming not long after with trees blooming from early to mid-May

Tulip trees with their creamy orange flowers have reached the end of their bloom now, but were blossoming earlier in May

Flowering Dogwoods are at their showiest when magnolias start to fade mid-May

Not as dramatic as magnolias, Chestnut trees bloom around the same time as dogwoods; early to mid-May

Area crab apples were at their peak last week and usually steal the show following dogwoods; by mid to late-May

Redbuds were at their height last week, but can still be seen adding splashes of colour to London neighbourhoods

This year’s lilac trees seem to be going for longevity. While flower buds were present by April, some blooms have been captivating people for weeks

Delicate honeysuckle shrubs are just starting to bloom this week

The round bursts of white flowers on this hydrangea are brightening London this week