Japanese flowering cherry

The Japanese flowering cherry is a popular ornamental tree with beautiful pink or white petals, known by the scientific name Prunus serrulata. They are so popular, especially in Japan, that there are festivals all over the country where many people eat underneath the tree. People are excited for them to grow in the spring, even though all the petals fall in about a week.

Body Design
The Japanese flowering cherry, more commonly known as the cherry blossom, is a popular tree with flowers that stun people around the world with its beauty. Out of over 200 varieties, most are known to be pink, but they actually come in many different colors. When the flowers are young, they are yellow or green, and sometimes, the flowers can bloom to be white, depending on the variety of cherry blossom.

Cherry blossoms typically grow up to 25-75 feet tall with a 40 foot wide canopy. This depends on the variety of the plant. Contradicting its own name, the cherry blossom doesn't actually bear fruit. The trees have flowers which can come with different amounts of petals. Each tree has a different set of numbers of petals, which are 5, 5-10, and 10.

Life Cycle
The Japanese flowering cherry is deciduous with a lifespan of 15-20 years. They grow in the beginning of spring, best with sun and partial shade. The seeds of a Japanese flowering cherry tree are similar to a pistachio, but the shell is more rugged. The seeds are edible, raw or cooked, but can be bitter.

Ecology
The Japanese flowering cherry has sensitive petals. It is best to find a place where they are not exposed to the wind too often. They should also not be planted in populated cities because they do not withstand pollution very well. The flowering cherry trees can also catch diseases. One disease is caused by a bacteria called Xanthomonas. This bacteria causes dark spots on leaves which can lead to the whole tree eventually rotting. The Japanese flowering cherry trees also deal with pests and insects. These include aphids, scales, borers, leaf hoppers, caterpillars, tent caterpillars, Japanese beetles, and spider mites. The insects can cause different kinds of harm to the tree like distorting the tree's growth, causing the leaves to turn yellow, and feeding on the foliage.

History of the Sakura
The Japanese flowering cherries, better known as "Sakura" in Japanese, are the unofficial national flower of Japan. Appearing on the back of some of its currency, these trees have been important to the history and traditions of Japan. In 1910, Japan had sent 2,000 trees to Washington D.C.to honor the friendship. However, it was discovered that many of these trees had diseases. In 1912, Japan, again, sent trees but this time, 3,000 of them. Today, cherry blossoms are best selling fragrance in the U.S.

Video
Japanese Flowering Cherry Trees in Japan

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