Shaws Vision

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SHAWS VISION

By Catherine Martin, Missouri Botanical Garden.

Photography by Sundos Schneider

SPRING BLOSSOMS

Missouri Botanical Garden’s extensive cherry tree collection is about to bloom; learn more about where to find them in the Garden this spring!

Photography by Kristina Schall DeYong

The Garden’s living collection includes more than 150 cherry trees—representing more than 30 different species, cultivars, and hybrids.Along with the popular yoshino cherry, substantial plantings of weeping Higan cherry, the double-flowered Kanzan cherry and cherry plum can be found throughout the Japanese Garden.

Of the 50 or so yoshino cherries at the Missouri Botanical Garden, 20 trace their lineage directly to the trees in Washington, DC. Those trees were presented to the Garden in 2012 by the Consulate General of Japan as part of a ceremony to mark the 100th anniversary of the original gift.

Typically, the Garden’s cherry collection hits its peak around the first week of April. However, a wide range of environmental factors can affect bloom time. Records kept by the Garden show a peak bloom can happen as early as March 23, or as late as April 17. Keep an eye on the Garden's social media channels for bloom updates!

Where to find them:

The bulk of the cherry trees are in the Japanese Garden, but cherry trees can be found in other locations, including near the Kemper Center for Home Gardening.

Photography by Kristina Schall DeYong

Photography by Tom Incrocc