Cherry blossom

A cherry blossom, or sakura (Japanese kanji and Chinese character: 桜 or 櫻; katakana: サクラ), is a flower of Japanese cherry trees. The cherry fruit is from a different species of tree. Most of the flowers are white or pink with five petals.

Japanese Cherry
Somei Yoshino Sakura
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Rosaceae
Subfamily:	Amygdaloideae
Genus:	Prunus
Species
Prunus jamasakura Prunus serrulata Prunus x yedoensis

There are about 400 different types of cherry trees.^[1] They mutate easily. Somei Yoshino is the most famous type of sakura.

Cherry blossoms are a symbol of spring for Japanese people. The traditional custom of Hanami or Flower viewing involves visiting places where sakura are blooming. The word "Sakura" can also be used as a name for women.

What do cherry blossoms smell like? Cherry blossoms have a smell, but it's very faint and subtle. The scent features light notes of lilac, rose, and magnolia with a powdery vanilla note and almond-like aromas. The aroma isn't overly sweet, fruity, or floral.^[2]

Related terms

• Hanafubuki means a scene when the cherry petals are scattered like snow.^[3]
• Cosmos flowers are called Akizakura (autumn cherry blossoms) because the flower's shape is similar to a cherry blossom.

Related pages

• Hanami
• Ume