※This article was published at April 2015.※
Sakura is an iconic symbol of Japan – it’s also one of the reasons why many travellers hop on and make their way to this island nation.
However, it’s not yet commonly understood that there are various types of Sakura.
So, here’s a small directory of these cute pink flowers.
Somei-yoshino: The Somei-yoshino is a cross-breed of two sakura trees developed in the late Edo period (1603-1868).
It became a popular choice in ‘Tree in the Meiji’ period (1868-1912) and was planted around the nation along roads, rivers, and lakes.
The characteristic of this charming breed is the light pink colour and the flower’s blossom before the leaves appear.
You can find these virtually anywhere in Japan.
Shidare-zakura: Shidare means “to hang down”, just as the name suggests, the branches of this sakura hangs down.
The characteristics of the flowers themselves are similar to the Somei-yoshino, although the individual flowers and petals are slightly smaller in size.
There is a famous Shidare-zakura in Maruyama Park, Kyoto.
Although much less common than the Somei-yoshino, this can be found across the nation.
Kawazu-zakura: Compared to the previously introduced, the Kawazu-zakura is a rare type of Sakura.
The place where most of these pink flowers can be found is Kawazu, Shizuoka Prefecture.
Some of the characteristics of this flower are that it blooms much earlier than its counterparts and lasts for over several weeks.
The peak season is usually February.
I hope that this little directory that I wrote today will give you a better understanding of the different types of sakura!
Sakura is an iconic symbol of Japan – it’s also one of the reasons why many travellers hop on and make their way to this island nation.
However, it’s not yet commonly understood that there are various types of Sakura.
So, here’s a small directory of these cute pink flowers.
Somei-yoshino: The Somei-yoshino is a cross-breed of two sakura trees developed in the late Edo period (1603-1868).
It became a popular choice in ‘Tree in the Meiji’ period (1868-1912) and was planted around the nation along roads, rivers, and lakes.
The characteristic of this charming breed is the light pink colour and the flower’s blossom before the leaves appear.
You can find these virtually anywhere in Japan.
Shidare-zakura: Shidare means “to hang down”, just as the name suggests, the branches of this sakura hangs down.
The characteristics of the flowers themselves are similar to the Somei-yoshino, although the individual flowers and petals are slightly smaller in size.
There is a famous Shidare-zakura in Maruyama Park, Kyoto.
Although much less common than the Somei-yoshino, this can be found across the nation.
Kawazu-zakura: Compared to the previously introduced, the Kawazu-zakura is a rare type of Sakura.
The place where most of these pink flowers can be found is Kawazu, Shizuoka Prefecture.
Some of the characteristics of this flower are that it blooms much earlier than its counterparts and lasts for over several weeks.
The peak season is usually February.
I hope that this little directory that I wrote today will give you a better understanding of the different types of sakura!
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