10 Fast Facts About Cherry Blossom Trees

1. The cherry blossom capital of the world isn’t located in Asia.

The cherry blossom capital of the world is Macon, Georgia with 300,000-350,000 Yoshino cherry blossom trees. Each year it holds the International Cherry Blossom Festival.

2. Cherry blossom petals are edible.

They are used in a lot of Japanese teas and sweets. They taste fruity and sweet, sometimes sour, almost like a real cherry.

3. They only bloom for a week.

It depends on the species of cherry blossom tree, but most typically bloom in late March to early April and will be bare within a week.

4. Amsterdam has 400 individually named cherry blossom trees.

In 2000, the Japanese Women’s Club donated 400 trees to Amsterdam. These are in the Amsterdamse Bos (a large park), where each tree has its own name.

5. The most common variety is the Somei-yoshino cherry tree.

This tree makes up 80% of the cherry trees in Japan, it is also the species that is gifted to other countries. Its petals are mainly white with a tint of pink.

6. There are over 100 varieties of cherry blossom trees.

They have different characteristics such as number of petals, colour, shape of tree, bloom time, etc. To see some of the more common varieties, look at this article.

7. You don’t have to travel to Japan to see them.

There are cherry blossom trees in Toronto, Niagara, Montreal, Edmonton, Vancouver, and Victoria, along with many other places in the world.

8. Japan has flower viewing parties, and they are a large part of their culture.

The parties are called Hanami and they celebrate the flowers, the cycle of life, spring, and renewal.

9. They have a six-stage blooming cycle.

The six-stage blooming cycle is closely monitored to predict when the trees will be at full bloom. Each stage of the bud gives a countdown to peak bloom.

10. Cherry blossom trees are ornamental.

These trees are not planted for their “functionality” or food producing ability, but solely for their beauty and fragrance.