As the cherry blossom (or Sakura) season comes to a close in Japan, tens of millions of tourists return to their homes after visiting the country. Every year, people travel from all over the world to Japan, to capture a perfect, “Instagrammable” photo of these delicate, fleeting beauties. 

 

And yet in England, cherry blossoms seem ordinary - a yearly herald of spring, and undeniably beautiful but nothing more. So why is cherry blossom season met with such enthusiasm in Japan, while it often goes unnoticed in the UK? It seems to me that these flowers deserve more appreciation at home, so let’s explore English cherry blossoms. 

 

Although many people think that cherry blossoms are native to Japan alone, and indeed most species are, there are two types of English Cherry blossoms - the wild cherry and the bird cherry, and they are distinguished from Japanese blossoms as they tend to bear small cherries (which are sometimes edible!) But beware... They don’t taste as good as they look.  They are too bitter for humans to eat, and can sometimes be toxic.  Japanese cherry blossom trees have generally been bred for ornamental purposes, so while the blossom is beautiful, there won’t usually be fruits. Another difference between these species is height: the average cherry blossom tree is 15-30 feet tall, but the bird cherry trees usually only get up to 10 feet. Admittedly, Japanese sakura can be more majestic than in England, with the oldest and tallest Sakura tree standing proud at 33 feet near Mount Fuji! 

 

The ornamental display of cherry blossoms in the Western world, particularly the US, when Japan gifted Sakura plants to Washington DC and planting the blossoms became an annual tradition in Washington. The popularity of these flowers quickly spread to Europe as well!

 

One of the most prominent figures in the Western appreciation of cherry blossoms was the Englishman Collingwood “Cherry” Ingram, who was so enthralled by the blossoms’ beauty during his honeymoon that he took several cuttings and grew them in his back garden, even creating new species of the plant. He quickly amassed the biggest collection of cherry blossoms in the world, so much so that he played a hand in saving several species from extinction. While visiting Japan, he discovered that the sole surviving “Akatsuki” or affectionately, the “Tai-haku” tree was the one in his garden! Cuttings were taken, and planted in Kyoto, and thus Ingram’s fascination helped preserve a vital part of Japanese heritage. 

Here is a list of some of the best "Sakura Spots" in London:

1. Kew Gardens, Japanese Gardens - along the Cherry Walk, you can see Ingram's "Tai-Haku" variation along with some unconventional types of cherry blossom and more

2. In Greenwich Park, near the observatory, where, in full bloom, the sakura trees meet to form a sort of tunnel made of cherry blossom - an ideal place for the perfect photo!

3. Holland Park, in the Kyoto Gardens, where you see not only cherry blossoms but a range of different flowers. This Garden was a gift to England from Japan, so you can be sure that it's pretty close to the authentic experience of a Japanese garden. 

Ultimately, while cherry blossom fever sweeps Japan, it's time that we give them some well-deserved attention in England. This spring, let’s stop and smell the cherry blossoms!