Skip to content
Open Today: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. All Hours

Peak Bloom Season at the Arboretum

Date & Time:

End of April to Late May

Location:

RBG Arboretum (16 Old Guelph Road)

Get Directions
A winding trail bordered by blooming magnolia trees. On the left, trees are covered in pink and purple flowers, while on the right, white star magnolias create a soft contrast. The path curves into a wooded area with more flowering magnolia trees visible in the distance.
  • Arboretum (16 Old Guelph Rd. Hamilton)
  • Parking is limited

The Arboretum (16 Old Guelph Road, Hamilton) is home to the majority of RBG’s flowering tree collections, including Flowering Cherry Trees, Magnolias, Crabapples, and Lilacs.

Parking capacity at the Arboretum is very limited; flat rate parking applies, with select weekends available to members only (shuttle available to the public from RBG Centre).

Plan Your Visit to the Arboretum

Parking capacity at the Arboretum is very limited. Garden admission is not required to visit the Arboretum; paid parking or shuttle ticket in effect. Reservations required weekends May 9 to 24, 2026.

From April 24 to May 8 (9 a.m. to 8 p.m.) parking at the Arboretum is available first-come, first served 

  • Paid parking is in effect: $25 flat rate per vehicle
    • Pay by credit or debit upon entry
  • RBG Members: Parking is included in RBG Membership. NOTE: a your parking card is required for entry (tap to enter and exit). Members arriving without this card will be required to pay the parking fee

Parking capacity at the Arboretum is very limited. To best accommodate increased weekend visitation, on-site parking is reserved for RBG Members only. All other visitors can take advantage of the shuttle service from RBG Centre on weekends.

Reservations are required for weekend visits between May 9 and 24, 2026 for both RBG Members and Shuttle from RBG Centre.

Non-Members:

  • Weekdays: Pay a flat $25 parking fee using the machine upon entry (card only)
  • Weekends 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Pre-book your shuttle tickets, park at RBG Centre (680 Plains Rd. W. Burlington)
  • Weekends, 5 to 8 p.m.: Pay a flat $25 parking fee using the machine upon entry (card only)

Admission is not required to access the Arboretum; parking fees OR shuttle ticket apply.

Members:

NOTE: your parking card is required for all Arboretum visits (tap to enter and exit). Members arriving without this card will be required to pay the parking fee.

  • Close up of flowering cherry tree
  • Pink Saucer Magnolia Blooms
  • Crabapple flowers passing peak bloom
  • Family of two adults and one child posing for a selfie in front of a tall lilac shrub. The child in the centre is holding their hand up in a peace sign.
  • Slightly droopy lilacs in peak bloom after a heavy rainfall

Signature Flowering Tree Collections

Please respect the trees.
Don’t break off blooms, shake the branches, or climb the trees as you can damage or break the tree branches.

Use of drones is prohibited under RBG bylaw and further regulated by NavCanada.

flowering cherry blossoms almost at full bloom

Flowering Cherry Collection

Mid to End of April

saucer magnolias in full bloom

Magnolia Collection

Early to Mid May

Wide angle of the Lilac Dell at sunset

Lilac Collection

Mid to End of May

What’s In Bloom?

Check our bloom watch and stay connected on social media for bloom updates!