Where to see Spring Flowers and Blooms Near Ottawa
After a long Canadian winter, spring is a welcome time of year for everyone, with colour beginning to cover the once blank white landscape. The first signs of spring are beautiful spring flowers emerging from the ground, and it’s the perfect time of year to get out and enjoy nature. Ottawa is a hub for spring activity with tulips, cherry blossoms, and spring bulbs sprouting in gardens and along trails around the capital region. Check out our favourite places to enjoy the spring season, and where to see spring flowers in Ottawa.
Where to see Tulips in Ottawa
The Canadian Tulip Festival
Every spring Ottawa explodes with colour as over a million tulips bloom around the capital region during the Canadian Tulip Festival, one of the most visually stunning festivals in Canada and a must-visit for photographers and nature lovers. Explore over 100 varieties of tulips in 120 beds at 30 sites around the city, from vibrant colourful blooms, to tulips with unique shapes and petal detail.
Commissioners Park is the official site of the Canadian Tulip Festival, and has the most spectacular display of tulips in the Ottawa region. Major’s Hill Park is another popular location, with Parliament Hill and the National Gallery of Canada as perfect backdrops for beautiful spring photo ops. Other great sites to view tulips are along the banks of the Ottawa River at the Canadian Museum of History, Confederation Park, along the Rideau Canal pathway and at Lansdowne Place in the neighbourhood of the Glebe. The NCC’s interactive map is a great resource to plan a tulip tour around the capital, and to find those hidden, not so obvious gardens to view tulips.
Check out our full guide to visiting the Canadian Tulip Festival.
When to see tulips: Peak blooming period is usually the third weekend in May and lasts about two weeks
Fun fact about tulips: Tulip petals are edible and can be used in place of onions in many recipes.
Crabapple, Cherry blossoms and Magnolias
The Dominion Arboretum
Flowering trees are the symbol of the spring season, with people flocking to local parks to view cherry blossoms, crabapple tree and magnolias in bloom. One of the best places to see flowering trees in Ottawa is at the Dominion Arboretum. Located on 64-acres, nestled between the Rideau Canal and Central Experimental Farm, the Dominion Arboretum is the most northerly Arboretum on the continent and showcases a range of over 4,000 woody plants. Take a wander along the well-marked trails and explore groves of cherry blossoms, crabapples and magnolias.
Other beautiful spots to spot flowering trees in Ottawa are Major’s Hill Park, the courtyard at the National Gallery of Canada, Tunney’s Pasture, the Canadian Museum of History and along the Rideau Canal pathway.
When to see cherry blossoms: Cherry blossoms only bloom for about a week, generally somewhere between the end of April to early May
Fun facts: Cherry blossom petals are edible and are used in a lot of Japanese teas and sweets. They taste fruity and sweet, sometimes sour, similar to a real cherry.
Lilacs
Franktown Lilac Festival
A short drive west of Ottawa is the small hamlet of Franktown, known as the lilac capital of Ontario, which hosts the Franktown Lilac festival each May. The festival is an explosion of fragrance and colour with famous Lilac Lane being the highlight. Take a stroll down the lane lined with beautiful lilacs in full bloom, or during the Lilac festival take a horse drawn carriage ride to enjoy he sights and smells of spring. The Franktown Lilac festival also has a variety of fun activities including a pancake breakfast, children’s bike parade, and live music.
When to see lilacs: late May to mid-June
Fun fact about lilacs: Lilacs are in the same family as species like, olive, ash and jasmine
Where to see Trillium in Ottawa
Trillium Woods
As the official provincial flower of Ontario, trilliums are the quintessential sign of spring in Ontario. There are five types of trilliums found in Ontario, including the white, red, painted, dropping and nodding trillium. You’ll find them in bloom beginning late April until the end of May in woodland areas with a medium amount of moisture. Trillium Woods Park, a mature woodland in Ottawa’s west end is a great place to see trillium in the spring. Stroll along the 3.2 km in and out trail, and spot the colourful blooms peeking out from the forest floor.
Gatineau Park
Gatineau Park, just north of downtown Ottawa is another great place to spot this iconic flower. You can spot trillium on many trails including the Carbide Wilson, Pink Lake, Lauriault, and Wolf Lake trails.
When to see trillium: late April to end of May
Fun fact about trillium: Did you know that the red trillium’s perfume actually smells like rotting flesh? The plant’s main pollinator are flies, and the plant has evolved to attract them with this foul odour, as well as it’s deep red colour which resembles the decaying flesh of animals.
Showy Lady Slipper Orchids
Purdon Conservation Area
Home to Canada's largest colony of showy lady's slipper orchids, the Purdon Conservation area, just west of Ottawa showcases a stunning display of over 16,000 showy lady's slipper orchids each June. Known to be the tallest orchid species in North America, these delicate pink and white orchids can take up to 10 years to flower after developing roots and leaves, and their blooming period only lasts approximately three weeks. Take a stroll along the 1 km accessible boardwalk trail over a rare fen wetland, and learn more about the history and ecology of these unique and breathtaking flowers with interpretive signage along the way.
When to see showy lady slipper orchids: mid-June to early July.
Fun fact: The leaves of the orchids are actually poisonous to touch, so avoid rubbing up against them and admire them at a safe distance
Daffodils, Hyacinths, Peonies and Other Spring Flowers
Ornamental Gardens
Just steps away from the Dominion Arboretum, Ottawa’s Ornamental Gardens is another great place to get your fill of spring flowers. Showcasing historic and new varieties of flowers since its inception in 1880, the Ornamental Gardens is home to a plethora of blooms, including 125 lilac species, 100 types of irises, peonies, daffodils, hyacinths, a variety of roses, plus beautiful flowering trees like crabapples and magnolias.
Maplelawn Gardens
In the heart of the Westboro neighbourhood, the historic Maplelawn gardens is a tranquil spot to enjoy spring beauty in the heart of the city. Constructed in 1834 and designated as a national historic site in 1989, Maplelawn Gardens is a rare of example of a typical 19th century walled garden, giving you those secret garden feels. As one of the few surviving estate houses from the area, the gardens hold a large variety of perennials including peonies for which the garden was once famous. The gardens are tended to by the Friends of Maplelawn Gardens, a group of volunteers that works closely with the National Capital Commission to preserve this special oasis in the city.
Gatineau Park
If you’re looking for hiking or walking trails to enjoy spring blooms, Gatineau Park is the place to go. The park offers one of the most beautiful and varied displays of wildflowers in their natural environment in the region. Keep your eyes peeled for trillium, coltsfoot, bloodroot, yellow trout lily, Carolina spring beauty, saxifrage and event showy lady slipper orchids. While many trails feature carpets of beautiful spring flowers, the Pink Lake Trail and Lauriault trail are among some of the best.
Ottawa City Parks and Green Spaces
Commissioners Park, the hotbed for tulip viewing during the Canadian Tulip Festival, also has a variety of other spring flowers including daffodils, irises, crocuses and hyacinths. Other great locations around the city with mixed spring gardens are Confederation Park, and Ottawa City Hall.
When to see spring flowers: Different varieties bloom at different times, but early April to early June is the best time to catch spring blooms
Fun Fact about daffodils: Legend says daffodils are associated with cheerfulness. When they’re presented to someone in a bunch, it’s meant to provide happiness, however if given as a single flower, it means misfortune.
Fun fact about peonies: Deer tend to avoid peonies due to the plant's fragrance nature, which they find unappetizing.
Fun fact about hyacinths: Hyacinths are believed to have several health benefits and may help with a range of skin disorders such as eczema and nausea, and are also said to help soothe sore throats and snake bites.
Pick Your Own Flowers Farms Near Ottawa
Green Corners Farm
There’s nothing more refreshing and uplifting than having a fresh arrangement of spring flowers in your home. There are several places to pick your own tulips in the Ottawa region, allowing you to spend time in the fresh spring air while customizing your own bouquet. Located only 20 min outside downtown Ottawa, Green Corners Farm is a family-owned U-pick tulip farm with over 500,000 multicoloured tulips ready to pick each May. Grab a basket and wander through the gorgeous flower fields to create your own personalized bouquet, and be sure to stop for beautiful photo-ops around the farm. There is a ticket for tulip picking, and one strictly for photography, so you can customize your visit. If you’re looking for a quick arrangement on the go, pre-cut flowers are also available for purchase at the farm.
Vankleek Hill Tulip Fields
Nestled in the charming town of Vankleek Hill, just an hour east of Ottawa, the Vankleek Hill Tulip Fields are the perfect place to spend a day out in the fresh spring air. This family-run self-pick tulip farm, has over 300,000 bulbs in an array of vibrant colours, allowing you to pick a bouquet of any size and colour. Walk through the rows of blooms for some stunning photo-ops, and then head back into the centre of the town and explore the many cool local attractions along the town’s main street. Discover fun things to do with our guide to visiting Vankleek Hill.
When to pick tulips: Late May into early June
Fun fact about cut tulips: You can make cut tulips last longer by adding a solution of one teaspoon of sugar and two drops of liquid bleach per 4.5L of fresh water to your vase
