Nashville's Special Connection to Cherry Trees
A Gift From Japan
Along with the native oaks, elms, tulip poplars, and other trees you’ll find across Nashville, a relative newcomer has become a star tree of the city. Cherry blossom trees have been popular ornamental trees in America since the early 20th century, but when the Japanese consulate-general for the South-Central United States moved its location from New Orleans to Nashville in 2008, they gave their new host city a gift of 1,000 cherry blossom trees, which were planted between 2009 and 2018.
A young Yoshino cherry in full bloom.
Symbolizing the friendship between the city of Nashville and the country of Japan, the planting of cherry blossoms, or sakura, also brought with it a centuries-old tradition of appreciating the trees in bloom, known as hanami (flower viewing). Their white or pink flowers remain for a few weeks in early spring, usually from the end of March through mid-April, and in Japan, many cities are tourist destinations for their collection of cherry blossoms.
The Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival
You can join a family-friendly celebration of springtime, cherry blossoms, and Japanese culture on Saturday, April 13th in front of the Metro Courthouse at Nashville Public Square. The free festival begins at 9:30 a.m. with a 2.5-mile Cherry Blossom Walk, led by Mayor John Cooper and Consul-General of Japan Yoichi Matsumoto. Throughout the day (until 5:00 p.m.), there will be traditional and contemporary Japanese musicians, artists, dancers, contests, games, merchandise, as well as a variety of Japanese foods to enjoy.
The Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival is a joint undertaking of the Japan-America Society of Tennessee, the consulate-general of Japan in Nashville and the city of Nashville, with funding provided by sponsors and donors for the event. Learn more about the event at the Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival’s official website.
A pink-flowering ornamental cherry.
Just Flowers, No Fruit
The cherry blossom is a woody plant that comes in many varieties of shrubs and trees. A species of the genus Prunus, it’s related to plums, almonds, apricots and of course, the fruiting cherry tree. The cherry blossom tree, however, only puts out flowers and doesn’t grow fruit. Still, the petals are edible, and these light, almond-flavored flowers are used in pastries and other foods while they are in season.
Cherry blossoms may have a delicate appearance, but they are hearty trees that can tolerate the acidic soils and direct sunlight they get along streets and sidewalks, in parks, and in residential yards. They are mid-sized trees that grow 15 to 20 feet tall and make great understory additions to the city’s canopy. These deciduous trees have full, green foliage in the summer following the spring flowers, which are shed after just a few weeks. Their leaves turn orange in the autumn before they drop for the winter.
A Rallying Point
Not long after the last of the consulate-general’s gift of 1,000 trees was planted in 2018, Nashvillians showed their fierce devotion to the trees by stopping the removal of 21 cherry trees that were scheduled to be cut to build a stage for 2019’s NFL draft event. The public outcry was heard, and although 10 of the trees were indeed removed, those were replaced, the event was adjusted, and 200 more cherry blossom trees were donated by the NFL to be planted in parks around Nashville.
Cherry Blossoms Across Nashville
Now a familiar sight across the city, cherry blossom trees can be found in the Nashville Public Square (where the festival is held and where the walking tour begins and ends), First Avenue, Riverfront Park, Centennial Park, and many other parks, sidewalks, and roadsides in Nashville. Cherry blossom trees are also a feature of the Shelby Avenue Arboretum, where they can be seen on the avenue and in Shelby Park. Cherry blossoms can also be found in residential yards throughout the city.
Cherry trees on Nashville's First Avenue.
If you would like to add a beautiful ornamental cherry tree to your yard, NTCC offers the Yoshino Cherry in its annual farm-to-yard tree sale. The Yoshino is best known as the tree that puts on a dazzling display every spring around Washington, D.C.’s Tidal Basin. These trees were also a gift from Japan, more than a century ago.
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