People walk along an avenue of blossoming Cherry trees, April 28, 2025. © REUTERS/Phil Noble
(Washington, DC) – Cherry blossom trees, now closely associated with the Tidal Basin near the National Mall in Washington, DC, were originally planted after being gifted by Japan. It was during the Taft Administration when they first went into the ground. It was in March of 1912 when First Lady Helen Herron Taft welcomes the Viscountess Chinda — wife of the Japanese Ambassador — for a visit. Together they planted two Yoshino cherry trees.
Several years later 3,000 additional trees arrived. An earlier shipment dated 1910 arrived in Seattle but then had to be destroyed due to a pest infestation. Now, more than 100 years later, more cherry trees are coming from Japan.
Following the official state visit of President Donald Trump to Japan, 250 cherry trees will be gifted to the United States, in celebration of the nation’s 250th birthday. Trump just met with Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the Akasaka Palace in Tokyo, where the announcement was made. In addition, fireworks from Japan will be shown in Washington, DC, on July 4th next year.
The existing cherry trees attract thousands of visitors each year when they blossom.
