As we enter the cherry blossom season, which is a key event in the Japanese calendar, we thought we’d gather some beautiful and interesting facts about the flower that many people may not know. Not only is the beautiful pink flower a symbol for Japan, it also gives us that welcomed feeling that spring is finally upon us.

 

 

1 – National Flower

 

Cherry blossom is actually the unofficial national flower of Japan. The official name for cherry blossom is Sakura, which is only really used throughout Japan. The flower is so loved by the Japanese that it is also used on their 100 yen coin.

 

 

2 – Dazzling Heights

 

Whilst the average cherry blossom tree is around 25 feet tall, you can often find some cherry blossom trees reaching a crazy 50 feet tall! This isn’t a very common occurrence, but with plenty of love and maintenance, the trees can really grow!

 

 

3 – Peak Blossoming Season

 

The peak blossoming season for the cherry blossom trees is usually Spring. To be precise, you usually find the beautiful pink blossoms appear around the 4th to the 7th April. It does vary from year to year, but you can always tell spring is here by the gorgeous pink blossoms on the trees! This is the perfect time for you to embrace the pretty pink petals and add a touch of spring to your home, through art, materials and even the cherry blossom itself.

 

 

4 – Health Benefits

 

Forget your peppermint green teas, sakurayu is the new tea for spring! By gently picking some cherry blossom from the tree, pickling it and adding it to some hot water, you have created yourself a stylish tea that is actually very popular for weddings throughout Japan!

 

 

5 – The Great Cherry Blossom

 

In Japan, there is a cherry blossom tree that is believed to be over 2,000 years old! This spectacular cherry blossom tree lives within the grounds of the Jissou Temple in Yamanashi, maintained and cared for by a dedicated team.

 

6 – Over 200 Varieties

 

When you look at cherry blossom gently perched on the tree in the fields, you probably think they’re all the same flower. There are actually over 200 varieties of cherry blossom. You may notice the different shades from tree to tree, which is often the different variety of cherry blossom that has grown there.