The Laws of the Blessing on Blossoming Fruit Trees

• When one sees blossoming fruit trees for the first time during the month of Nissan, one should say this blessing:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱ-לֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁלֹּא חִסֵּר בְּעוֹלָמוֹ כְּלוּם וּבָרָא בוֹ בְּרִיּוֹת טוֹבוֹת וְאִילָנוֹת טוֹבוֹת לֵהָנוֹת בָּהֶם בְּנֵי אָדָם.

Transliteration: Baw-rooch ah-taw Ah-doh-noi Eh-loh-hei-noo meh-lech haw-oh-lawm sheh-loh chee-seir beh-oh-law-moh keh-loom oo-vaw-raw voh beh-ree-yohs toh-vohs veh-ee-law-nohs toh-vohs lei-haw-nohs baw-hem be-nei aw-dawm.

Translation: Blessed are You, L‑rd our G‑d, King of the universe, Who has made nothing lacking in His world and created in it goodly creatures and goodly trees to give mankind pleasure.

• This blessing is said just once a year—the first time that he sees it.1

• Although the ideal situation is for the blessing to be said during the month of Nissan, it would seem that post facto (bedi’eved), if one did not see the trees blossoming until the month of Iyar, it would be permitted to say the blessing.2

• One is permitted to say this blessing even on the Shabbat and on holidays.3

• Preferably, an effort should be made that the blessing be said when seeing two trees at one time. However, if there is only one tree, the blessing can still be said.4

• The blessing should not be said on trees which grow fruits that are grafted from two species.5

• In Australia and other countries of the southern hemishphere, where the trees blossom during the months of Elul and Tishrei, the blessing can be said at that time.6