Flowering cherry trees erupt into a cloud of pink or white blossoms each spring so dense it can briefly obscure the branches entirely — a display that draws crowds under Japan's famous cherry blossoms every year.
Native to Asia, ornamental cherry varieties are grown almost entirely for their spectacular spring bloom, while fruiting cherry species are cultivated separately for sweet or tart cherries — both share the same brief, breathtaking flowering period.
Cherry trees want full sun and well-draining soil, and generally dislike having their roots disturbed once established. Fruiting varieties often need a second, compatible tree nearby for pollination, while most ornamental flowering cherries are self-fertile and grown for bloom alone.
Cherry blossom symbolizes the fleeting, transient beauty of life in Japanese culture, its brief but stunning bloom a centuries-old metaphor for mindfulness and appreciating the present moment.
