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Blooming cherry blossom trees go hand in hand with the arrival of spring, but have you ever wondered about the history of these pretty pink flowers? Well, we have all the cherry blossoms facts that you should know before traveling to see this spring event this year in some of the most beautiful places in the US. Cherry blossoms, which symbolize renewal, have quite the surprising backstory. For example, did you know that the first time Japan tried to send cherry blossoms to the U.S. as an offering of friendship, it nearly resulted in a diplomatic crisis? And you won't believe how one city in Georgia started its collection of trees.
As well as their history, there are also important things to know about where, when, and how to see these blooms. After all you may want to travel to see the famous Washington D.C. cherry blossoms, but did you know that the Cherry Blossom Capital of the World is in another American city? It turns out that these delicate flowers may be shrouded in much more intricacy than you might have guessed! So, once you're prepared with the best time to go see this spring event, the best location, and some of the best spring quotes for that inevitable Instagram, you can educate your friends and family on some of these interesting cherry blossom facts.
1
George Washington didn't actually chop down a cherry tree.
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You may have heard the story of America's first president damaging his father's cherry tree with a hatchet as a young boy. When confronted about it, he allegedly confessed and said, "I cannot tell a lie." While it's an admirable anecdote about honesty, this is actually a myth made up by one of George Washington's biographers, Mason Locke Weems.
2
Cherry trees have a short lifespan.
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Typically, they only last about 16-20 years. But certain species have a much longer life expectancy. Black cherry trees, for example, can live up to 250 years.
3
You can get arrested for breaking off a blossom.
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Yep, think again before you decide to pluck one of these pink beauties. Removing a blossom or branch is considered vandalism of federal property in Washington, D.C., which can lead to a citation or even an arrest.
4
Flowering cherry trees are largely ornamental.
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This branch of trees is largely for looks as opposed to fruit production. Ornamental cherry trees do produce fruit closely related to edible cherries, these trees are usually grown for their beauty.
5
400 cherry trees in Amsterdam are individually named.
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All of the 400 cherry trees in Amsterdam's Amsterdamse Bos are named. In 2000, the Japan Women's Club donated the trees to the city to celebrate the two nations' relationship.
6
The flower petals are edible.
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The cherry blossoms and the leaves are edible and used in many traditional Japanese sweets and tea. They are first pickled and then used in recipes for mochi cakes, candies, and even cookies. You can also brew sakura blossom tea or make co*cktails with preserved blossoms.
7
Cherry blossoms symbolize renewal.
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Known as "sakura" in Japanese, these pale blooms are a symbol of spring because it is a time of renewal. However, because the blooms are short-lived, they are also symbolic of the fleeting nature of life.
8
Cherry blossom ice cream is a real thing.
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Baskin Robbins Japan rereleased a limited edition cherry blossom ice cream flavor in 2016. Häagen-Dazs also released a short-run cherry blossom pint for Valentine's Day in the UK in 2018.
9
Picnicking beneath cherry blossom trees is a Japanese tradition.
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The century-old custom is known as "hanami," which means flower viewing. Early records hint that the tradition began with emperors and members of the Imperial Palace feasting under the trees' blooming branches.
10
Peak bloom is usually around April 4.
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Peak bloom varies each year in Washington D.C., but typically occurs around April 4 and can last up to 14 days. The peak bloom is the day when 70 percent of the Toshino cherry trees are open.
11
Cherry trees can be huge.
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The ornamental Japanese cherry trees we are used to seeing average 20 to 40 feet with canopies that can reach between 15 and 30 feet. Wild cherry trees can grow up to 80 feet tall.
12
"Hanami" picnics are arguably more spectacular at night.
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For these late-night picnics, known as "yozakura," the Japanese hang paper lanterns in cherry blossom trees to illuminate them.
13
Cherry blossom festivals celebrate more than just spring.
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According to the National Cherry Blossom Festival in D.C., the flower is celebrated as a symbol for the enduring friendship between Japan and the US. Over one million people attend D.C.'s annual festival that now lasts for four weeks.
14
US cherry blossom trees date back to 1912.
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The first US cherry trees were planted in 1912 as a gift of friendship from Japan. Over 3,000 trees spanning 12 varieties were shipped from Yokohama to Seattle. They were then transferred to freight cars and sent to Washington, D.C.
15
Japan had tried to send over cherry blossoms once before.
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In 1910, US inspectors from the Department of Agriculture recommended burning the 2,000 trees sent from the Japanese after finding insects and diseases in the trees. According to Washingtonian, this nearly caused a diplomatic crisis.
16
Bloom predictions can't be made too far in advance.
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Want to catch cherry blossoms in all their glory? You'll want to wait until March, when bloom predictions are made by the National Park Service, to plan your trip.
17
They make up a top-selling fragrance in the US.
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The top fragrance from Bath and Body Works is consistently their Japanese Cherry Blossom. Thirty million units of the mixture of cherry blossoms, crisp pears, mimosa petals, and sweet sandalwood are sold each year.
18
People seek out views of Mount Fuji behind the cherry blossoms.
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This image, cherry blossoms framing Mount Fuji, is a common postcard view found throughout the Fuji Five Lakes.
19
There are several locations in Washington, D.C. to see the blooms.
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While the majority of the cherry trees are near the Tidal Basin, many clusters are found along the National Mall, north of the Lincoln Memorial, and near the Washington Monument in addition to other areas in the city.
20
Neither D.C. nor Japan hold the title of "Cherry Blossom Capital of the World."
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Rather, it's Macon, Georgia, which is home to over 350,000 Yoshino cherry blossom trees. That's 90 times the amount that Washington, D.C. has! While these trees obviously are not native to the South, William A. Fickling Sr., a local realtor, discovered one in his own backyard in 1949. On a business trip to Washington, D.C., he learned more about cherry blossoms and sought to bring more to his hometown.
21
Cherry blossoms are said to be native to the Himalayas.
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According to the Huffington Post, these flowers likely originated somewhere in Eurasia before migrating to Japan.
22
The most popular variety of cherry tree is the Yoshino.
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Though there are hundreds of different types of cherry trees, Yoshino cherry trees are the most popular.
23
They aren't always pink.
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Flowers can range in color from pale pink to bright pink as well as white and ivory. For example, in Washington D.C. 70% of the trees are made up of Yoshinos which have single white blossoms. However, because they are mixed in with Akebono cherry trees, the Yoshino has mutated to present pale pink blossoms.
24
Each tree may only bloom for up to a week.
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While cherry blossom season usually lasts about a month, from the time the first to the last tree blooms, each individual tree may only flower for about a week.
25
You don't have to travel to Washington D.C. to see them in the US.
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While D.C. is one of the most popular places to travel during cherry blossom season, you can also see the pretty pink blooms around the country. People flock to see the pink petals around Boston's Charles River, the Cherry Blossom Walk in Nashville, the Roosevelt Island Cherry Blossom Festival in New York City, and the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis to name a few.
Rebecca ShinnersSocial Media EditorRebecca was the social media editor at CountryLiving.com and WomansDay.com.
