Sakura
Prunus × yedoensis
Family: Rosaceae · Also called Yoshino Cherry, Someiyoshino, Japanese Cherry Blossom, Prunus fruticosa f. shojo, Prunus pudibunda var. morioka-pendula, Cerasus × yedoensis
Green & Fresh · Spring bloomer
Sakura transforms Japan each spring into a nation of dreamers, millions of pale pink blossoms opening simultaneously along rivers, in parks, and around temples for a fleeting one to two weeks before falling like snow. The Yoshino cherry is the most planted variety, chosen for its pale color, abundance of bloom, and the poetic way its petals scatter in the wind.
transience, beauty, mortality, renewal
In the Victorian language of flowers, sakura means “The beauty of impermanence”. Sakura is inseparable from Japanese identity, hanami (flower viewing) has been practiced for over 1,000 years. The Japan Meteorological Agency tracks the 'cherry blossom front' as it moves north from Okinawa in January to Hokkaido in May. Schools and fiscal years begin in April to coincide with sakura. The falling petals (花吹雪, hanafubuki) symbolize life's transience in bushido.
Did You Know?
The Yoshino cherry is a sterile hybrid, every single one in the world is a clone, propagated by grafting. This means they bloom in near-perfect synchrony (same genes = same timing). Japan gifts sakura worldwide as diplomacy: Washington D.C.'s famous trees were a 1912 gift from Tokyo Mayor Ozaki. There are over 400 cultivated cherry varieties in Japan.
Cultivated in parks, temple grounds, and along rivers throughout Japan and worldwide
Sakura is native to Japan (hybrid origin). It naturally grows in cultivated in parks, temple grounds, and along rivers throughout japan and worldwide.
Scent Profile
“Barely scented, Yoshino cherry has the faintest almond sweetness, nothing like the richness of plum blossom. The appeal is purely visual and cultural: clouds of pale pink that last mere days.”
Quick Reference
- Scientific NamePrunus × yedoensis
- FamilyRosaceae
- Native ToJapan (hybrid origin)
- Bloom SeasonSpring
- LifespanPerennial
Cultural Significance
Sakura is inseparable from Japanese identity, hanami (flower viewing) has been practiced for over 1,000 years. The Japan Meteorological Agency tracks the 'cherry blossom front' as it moves north from Okinawa in January to Hokkaido in May. Schools and fiscal years begin in April to coincide with sakura. The falling petals (花吹雪, hanafubuki) symbolize life's transience in bushido.