Cherry Blossom
Prunus serrulata
Family: Rosaceae · Also called Sakura, Japanese Cherry, Yoshino Cherry, Prunus serrulata f. taihaku, Prunus serrulata var. taishanensis, Prunus serrulata f. communis
Powdery & Soft · Spring bloomer
The cherry blossom is perhaps the most philosophically loaded flower in the world. In Japan, sakura represents mono no aware, the bittersweet awareness of impermanence. The blooms last roughly two weeks, and their fleeting beauty is the entire point. When the petals fall, they create a phenomenon called hanafubuki (flower blizzard), a shower of pink that transforms the world.
transience, beauty, renewal, mindfulness
In the Victorian language of flowers, cherry blossom means “The beauty of impermanence”. Hanami, the Japanese tradition of gathering under cherry blossoms, dates back over 1,000 years. The samurai adopted sakura as a symbol of the warrior's brief, beautiful life. Japan has gifted cherry trees worldwide as symbols of friendship, including 3,000 to Washington, D.C. in 1912.
Did You Know?
Japan's Meteorological Agency tracks the 'cherry blossom front' (sakura zensen) as it moves northward through the country each spring. The forecast is national news, and the peak bloom date has shifted earlier by several days over the past century due to climate change.
Temperate forests and mountains of Japan, China, and Korea
Cherry Blossom is native to East Asia. It naturally grows in temperate forests and mountains of japan, china, and korea.
Scent Profile
“A barely perceptible, powdery sweetness with faint almond and cherry notes, more of a feeling than a fragrance.”
Quick Reference
- Scientific NamePrunus serrulata
- FamilyRosaceae
- Native ToEast Asia
- Bloom SeasonSpring
- LifespanPerennial
Cultural Significance
Hanami, the Japanese tradition of gathering under cherry blossoms, dates back over 1,000 years. The samurai adopted sakura as a symbol of the warrior's brief, beautiful life. Japan has gifted cherry trees worldwide as symbols of friendship, including 3,000 to Washington, D.C. in 1912.