Clones of Stumpy, Washington D.C.&x27;s beloved cherry blossom tree, have flowered for the first time Tim StellohWed, March 25, 2026 at 9:00 PM UTC 0 A horticulturist at the National Arboretum holds one of the successfully planted clippings from Stumpy, the cherry blossom tree, in 2024 in Washington, D.C. (John McDonnell / AP) (John McDonnell) Stumpy lives again. Clones of the scraggly, beloved cherry blossom tree felled two years ago in the nation's capital have flowered for the first time this spring, reaching what federal officials described Wednesday as a "pinnacle achievement." The U.S.
Clones of Stumpy, Washington D.C.'s beloved cherry blossom tree, have flowered for the first time
Tim StellohWed, March 25, 2026 at 9:00 PM UTC
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A horticulturist at the National Arboretum holds one of the successfully planted clippings from Stumpy, the cherry blossom tree, in 2024 in Washington, D.C. (John McDonnell / AP) (John McDonnell)
Stumpy lives again.
Clones of the scraggly, beloved cherry blossom tree felled two years ago in the nation's capital have flowered for the first time this spring, reaching what federal officials described Wednesday as a "pinnacle achievement."
The U.S. National Arboretum said in a statement that the plant material used to propagate the Yoshino cherry clones was collected in the summer of 2024. It was one of thousands that line the banks of the Tidal Basin reservoir between the Thomas Jefferson and Franklin Delano Roosevelt memorials.
Clones of Stumpy are flowering for the first time this spring. (U.S. National Arboretum) (U.S. National Arboretum)
The new trees are healthy and have put on substantial growth since forming their own root systems, according to the statement. They will remain at a non-public research area until the National Park Service can replant them, perhaps as soon as next spring, the arboretum said.
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"It is our hope that the story and spirit of these trees will inspire future generations of cherry tree enthusiasts around the world — deepening cultural connections for years to come," Richard Olsen, the arboretum's director, said in a statement included in the release.
"Stumpy" the cherry tree at the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C. in 2024. (Mandel Ngan / AFP via Getty Images) (Mandel Ngan)
Stumpy sat on the banks of the Tidal Basin, near the National Mall. The tree rose to fame in 2020, with a viral Reddit post saying the tree was as dead as the user's love life — but he still loved it.
With a hollow interior trunk, Stumpy was among 158 trees felled in 2024 as part of a project aimed at shoring up a sea wall near the National Mall.
Speaking to NBC News on the eve of Stumpy's passing, a tourist compared the tree to the ugly duckling.
"It's by itself, and it just stands out," she said.
Source: "AOL Breaking"
Source: Breaking
Published: March 25, 2026 at 11:54PM on Source: RON MAG
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