30 Cherry Blossom Tree Facts That Highlight the Season

Celebrate the beauty of spring with this visual festival of cherry blossom trees.

Spring is a wonderful time. One of the best ways to celebrate its arrival is with gorgeous cherry blossoms.

The symbolic flower stands for renewal, and countries around the world have cherry blossom festivals to usher in new beginnings and enjoy their beauty with food, friends and family.

You’ll understand why cherry blossom trees are so revered after seeing these stunning pictures and learning some fun facts about them.

Cherry Blossoms Are the National Flower of Japan

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Image location: Kyoto, Japan

Cherry blossoms have an important cultural significance in Japan, where they are called “sakura.” Kyoto is considered one of the best places in Japan to see cherry blossoms.

Cherry Blossom Trees Usually Grow 20 to 30 Feet

Cherry blossom trees in Jinhae, South Korea

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Image location: Jinhae, South Korea

Jinhae holds the most important cherry blossom festival in South Korea, and about 2 million people go to the southeastern town to attend it.

But Wild Cherry Trees Can Grow Up to 80 Feet

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Image location: Da Lat, Vietnam

Cherry blossom trees in Da Lat have the shape of plum trees and differ from those in Japan and Korea.

The First Cherry Blossoms in the U.S. Were Brought in 1912

Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C.

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Image location: Washington, D.C.

The cherry blossoms in D.C. were a gift from Japan as a gesture of friendship and goodwill between countries. The first gift of cherry blossom trees was actually given in 1910, but the trees had to be burned because of a pest, almost causing a diplomatic crisis.

McDonald’s Japan Once Had Pink Hamburger Buns in Honor of Cherry Blossoms

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Image location: Paris, France

A cherry blossom tree in Paris’ Jardin des Plantes is said to be the largest tree in the city.

Bloom Predictions Can Only Be Made About 10 Days Prior

Row of cherry blossoms in Macon, Georgia

Cherry Blossom Festival, Macon Georgia / Facebook

Image location: Macon, Georgia

Macon is known as the “Cherry Blossom Capital of the World,” with 350,000 cherry blossom trees.

Starbucks Asia Makes Sakura-Flavored Drinks

Cherry blossoms at Gucun Park in Shanghai

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Image location: Shanghai, China

Gucun Park is the most popular place in Shanghai to see cherry blossoms, boasting over 12,000 trees. About 100,000 people come every year to celebrate at the park’s Cherry Blossom Festival.

The First Cherry Blossom Tree in the U.S. Was Planted in Maryland by David Fairchild

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Image location: Portland, Oregon

Portland’s waterfront is the place where locals go to enjoy cherry blossoms. Nearby, Salem is also one of the state’s best places to see the flowers, even hosting its own cherry blossom day.

Individual Cherry Blossom Trees Only Bloom for a Week

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Image location: Vancouver, Canada

Vancouver celebrates its Cherry Blossom Festival at Queen Elizabeth Park.

The Average Lifespan for Cherry Blossom Trees Is Around 35 Years

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Image location: Jerte Valley, Spain

Spain’s Valle del Jerte has over 2 million cherry blossom trees, making it a preferred place for spring road trips.

Cherry Blossom Tea and Cocktails Are a Thing

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Image location: Jeju Island, South Korea

The King Cherry tree is native and endemic to this unique South Korean island, which is why Jeju’s Cherry Blossom Festival is considered special.

And So Is Cherry Blossom Ice Cream

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Image location: Manchester, England

Manchester will plant cherry blossom tree circles around the city as COVID memorials.

You Can Also Pickle Cherry Blossoms to Make Them Savory

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Image location: Toronto, Canada

Toronto’s chilly climate is around the limit temperature at which cherry blossoms can bloom.

Sakura Is Engraved on the 100 Yen Coin

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Image location: Mount Fuji, Japan

Mount Fuji is astonishing in every season, but one of its most popular seasons is when the cherry blossoms are in bloom.

Cherry Blossoms Are Believed to Come From the Himalayas

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Image location: Meghalaya, India

Meghalaya was the first place in the world to organize an international cherry blossom festival to be celebrated in the fall, since its trees bloom in November. It was also the first cheery blossom festival in India.

Cherry Blossoms Can Also Be White

Bird on cherry blossom tree at the Auckland Botanical Gardens

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Image location: Auckland, New Zealand

Auckland Botanical Gardens has a Spring Blossom Valley, where visitors can see cherry blossom trees bloom in the Austral spring (generally September to October).

D.C. Cherry Blossoms Bring In Over 1.5 Million Visitors

Cherry Blossoms at Yangmingshan National Park, Taiwan

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Image location: Yangmingshan National Park, Taiwan

Extensive hiking trails, mountain views and several varieties of cherry blossoms make Yangmingshan National Park one of the prime blossom viewing places in Taiwan.

Cherry Blossoms Belong To the Same Family as Roses

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Image location: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Each one of the 400 cherry blossom trees planted around the city of Amsterdam has its own name. Rest of the world: Take note!

The Oldest Cherry Blossom Tree Is 2,000 Years Old

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Image location: Zurich, Switzerland

Zurich’s Idaplatz has both white and pink cherry blossoms, which makes it one of the city’s favored spots.

A Group of Women Once Chained Themselves to Cherry Trees in D.C. as a Protest

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Image location: Seattle, Washington

You can see cherry blossoms in many places around Seattle, including the University of Washington, Jefferson Park, the Washington Park Arboretum and the Seattle Japanese Gardens.

‘Hanami’ Is a Japanese Custom of Picnicking Under Cherry Blossoms

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Image location: Tokyo, Japan

At night, this Japanese tradition is called “yozakura” and is a popular spring pastime in Tokyo.

Japanese Cherry Blossom Is One of Bath and Body Works’ Best-Selling Fragrances

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Image location: New York, New York

Unsurprisingly, Central Park is the absolute best place in New York City to enjoy the blooms. If you want to honor Japanese tradition, bring a picnic with you.

Many Decorative Cherry Blossom Trees Are Engineered

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Image location: Boone, Germany

Boone celebrates its beautiful cherry blossom tree tunnels with an open-air festival in its Altstadt neighborhood complete with live music and street food.

Cherry Blossoms Symbolize Femininity and Love in China

Cherry blossoms in Beijing, Yuyuantan Park

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Image location: Beijing, China

If you happen to be in the Chinese capital during cherry blossom season, head to Yuyuantan Park.

Yoshino Is the Most Popular Type of Cherry Tree

Yoshino cherry blossom with red cardinal

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Image location: Unknown

There are hundreds of cherry blossom varieties, but you will only find the beautiful trees in about 20 countries around the world.

An 800,000-Piece Lego Cherry Blossom Tree Set the Guinness World Record in 2018

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Image location: London, England

The cherry blossoms in Kew Gardens were the first to be planted in the city over 110 years ago.

Damaging or Taking a Cherry Blossom Is a Crime in Washington, D.C.

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Image location: Washington, D.C.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C., is the most popular of its kind in the U.S.

Birds Need Long Thin Beaks to Reach the Nectar of Cherry Blossoms

Cherry blossoms in South Wales, Australia

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Image location: New South Wales, Australia

The honor of having the largest Japanese garden in the entire Southern Hemisphere goes to the Australian city of Cowra in New South Wales. The garden holds an annual cherry blossom festival in September.