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Rosaceae
Cherry Blossom
Prunus serrulata
Life, beauty, impermanence (mono no aware), renewal.
- Family
- Rosaceae
- Genus
- Prunus
- Native to
- Japan, China, Korea
- Bloom season
- Early Spring
- Type
- deciduous tree
- Height
- 7.5–12 m
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil
- Well-drained, fertile, slightly acidic
- Water
- Moderate
- Hardiness
- 5–8
- Lifespan
- 30–40 years (Yoshino); some species 1000+ years
Did you know
- Japan's cherry blossom viewing tradition, 'hanami,' dates back to the 8th century.
- In 1912, Japan gifted 3,020 cherry trees to Washington, D.C.; their descendants still bloom along the Tidal Basin each spring.
- Cherry blossoms typically bloom for only 1–2 weeks, symbolizing the transient nature of life.
- The oldest cherry blossom tree in Japan, Jindai Zakura, is estimated to be over 2,000 years old.
- Cherry blossoms are the national flower of Japan and were painted on WWII kamikaze planes.