Cherry Blossoms

flowers · Japan · spring · trees

Flowers of Prunus trees. Cherry blossoms grow on trees from the Prunus genus, specifically in a group called Cerasus. These aren't the trees that grow cherries for eating, but special ornamental varieties bred just for their stunning flowers.

Vanilla-scented petals. One of the coolest things about cherry blossoms is their vanilla-like smell! Scientists discovered that a chemical called coumarin is the main ingredient that gives them this sweet fragrance.

Called sakura in Japan. The word sakura is the Japanese name for cherry blossoms, and these flowers are super important in Japanese culture. They've celebrated the blooming season called hanami for hundreds of years.

Popular ornamental trees. The most famous type is Prunus serrulata, which has been specially bred over generations to create amazing flowers. Gardeners and parks around the world plant these trees because people love watching them bloom in spring.