The Cherry Blossom
Japanese sakura: About cherry blossoms :
Depending on what time of the year you visit Japan and where you go, you are likely to spot pink flowers blooming from trees. These are sakura, Japan’s famed cherry blossoms, painting the world in a cloud of delicate pinks, whites and even yellow and green.
In Japanese culture, sakura have long been associated with renewal and hope, likely as they also symbolise that spring has truly arrived.
One characteristic of Japanese cherry blossoms often addressed in poetry is their ephemerality. Sakura trees’ peak blossoms last only for about a week, making the timing of one’s HANAMI gathering difficult. A cherry blossom forecast and calendar are created annually and watched closely by the nation.
What is the ritual of Hanami?
The ritual of Hanami is a ceremony from Japan that celebrates the fleeting beauty of cherry blossoms. It is commonly known as “flower viewing” and is simply the ancient practice of gazing upon the flowers.
In ancient times, farmers would pray, make offerings, and prepare a feast under the cherry blossom trees, believing it would bring an abundant harvest. These days, Hanami is an annual event everyone looks forward to. Come spring, family and friends gather for picnics and parties under the cherry blossom trees. They sing together, eat all kinds of food, and drink alcoholic beverages.
Popular Varieties of Sakura in Japan
There are over 300 different varieties of cherry tree – also known as cultivars. Cherry blossom species naturally have five petals, but there are some cultivars that have more than 100 petals per flower.
Somei Yoshino (Yoshino Cherry) :
The most common variety of cherry blossom.
These flowers are usually oval-shaped, three to four centimetres long, and have five petals per flower. Taking on a pale pink appearance during the initial bloom and becoming whiter as the days go by, It blooms in bunches of three to four flowers and green leaves replace them once the petals have fallen.
These flowers start blooming from mid-March to late April
Kanzan :
One of the "double-blossom" sakura, which includes any cherry blossom variety with more than ten petals per flower. These late-blooming flowers are easily recognizable by their rich pink color and voluminous clusters, making them a striking sight in full bloom. The fresh leaves are copperyThe fresh leaves are coppery.
Kanzan cherry blossoms usually start blooming in mid-April in Tokyo
Gyoiko-zakura :
Known for its pale green petals, sometimes with pink lines or tinges. Another variety, Ukon, features vibrant yellow-green blossoms.
This variety is particularly striking, with its green petals sometimes described as "highlighter-green" or resembling the color of Heian-era aristocratic kimonos. It's a type of yaezakura, meaning it has multiple layers of petals.
Shidarezakura (Weeping Cherry) :
Stands out with its cascading branches adorned with delicate, vibrant blooms. These graceful trees add a unique charm to Japan’s spring scenery.
Weeping cherry blossom trees (しだれ桜) are characterized by their thin, drooping branches that hang down like threads, also earning them the nickname "itozakura" (thread cherry blossoms). These popular trees have a long history dating back as far as the Heian Period 1200 years ago.
The color of the flowers depends on the type of weeping cherry tree, and can vary between pink, white, and red.
Kikuzakura (Chrysanthemum Cherry) :
Kikuzakura, or the chrysanthemum cherry, is a type of yaezakura (multi-layered cherry blossom) or cherry blossoms with more than five petals in a flower. it has a very soft color ranges from white to a very light pink hint. The Kikuzakura has as many as one hundred petals per blossom.
These blossoms are also some of the late-flowering ones, starting around late April and early May. One of the best places to see kikuzakura in Japan is at Ishikawa Prefecture’s Kenrokuen Garden. It is said that the kikuzakura here, aptly named Kenrokuen Kikuzakura, is a very rare species where one flower has as many as 300 petals!
Kanhizakura (Bellflower Cherry) :
Popular for taking on the appearance of a hanging bell with deep pink hues with blooms that do not fully open.
This tree with its dark pink, bell-shaped flowers is native to Taiwan and Okinawa where it blooms as early as January and February. In the parks of Tokyo it is not usually in bloom until mid March, but still among the earliest blooming varieties.
Yamazakura :
Its blossoms are slightly pink and have five, relatively small petals. The Yamazakura's fresh leaves develop at the same time as the blossoms, giving the tree a somewhat less intense look than the Somei Yoshino.
When do Yamazakura cherry blossoms bloom?
Yamazakura cherry blossoms typically bloom between March and April in the Kanto region, emerging at the same time as the tree’s new leaves.
Fascinating facts about Cherry Blossoms
- Each of the 400 cherry trees in Amsterdam Forest have either a Japanese or Dutch female name. They were donated by the Japan Women's Club in 2000 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Netherlands-Japan Friendship Treaty.
- Cherry blossom petals are edible.They are used in a lot of Japanese teas and sweets. They taste fruity and sweet, sometimes sour, almost like a real cherry.
- They aren't always pink. Flowers can range in color from pale pink to bright pink as well as white, ivory, green and yellow.
- The cherry blossom capital of the world is Macon, Georgia with 300,000-350,000 Yoshino cherry blossom trees
- They only bloom for a week.t depends on the species of cherry blossom tree, but most typically bloom in late March to early April and will be bare within a week.
- Cherry blossom trees are ornamental.These trees are not planted for their “functionality” or food producing ability, but solely for their beauty and fragrance.
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