What’s So Special About Cherry Blossom Trees? Plant Girl Travels to DC.
Greetings from DC. It’s the time for the annual Cherry Blossom festival which attracts thousands of people to the area per year. What’s so special about Cherry Blossom you ask? These particular trees, were actually a gift from the people of Japan to First Lady Helen Taft in 1912 for the people of the United States. This gift originally included 2,000 trees and over the years several still remain while others have been replaced. Culturally cherry blossoms signify the coming of spring, renewal, new beginnings as well as the fragility of beauty.
The majority of the Cherry Blossom trees around DC are of the cultivars (varieties) Yoshino and Kwanzan. Yoshino accounts for nearly 70% of the total trees in the area, blooming first with white blossoms. While Kwanzan accounts for closer to 13% of the tree population blooming about 2 weeks later with pink double blossoms. These plants are hardy from zones 6-8 preferring temperate to subtropical climates. Part of the genus Prunus, these plants belong in the Rosaceae family which includes, of course, roses as well as strawberries, pear, and apple trees. Both the blossoms and leaves are edible and used globally in sweets and teas for their smell and flavor. Many cosmetics include this ingredient for their ability to help repair and soothe irritated skin. If you can get out to DC to see this magnificent sight, I recommend it.
References or Further Reading:
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/cherryblossom/types-of-trees.htm