Fifty Japanese Cherry Blossom Trees Planted at Eden Project

50 Japanese Cherry Trees Planted at Eden Project

The Eden Project has planted 50 Japanese cherry blossom trees in its dedicated Japanese Garden as part of the Sakura Cherry Tree Project.

Launched in 2017, the project celebrates the continuing friendship and co-operation between Japan and the UK. Its original aim was to plant 6,000 donated cherry trees across the UK as a symbol of international friendship.

The cherry blossom, known as Sakura, is Japan’s national flower. At Eden, the 50 trees have been planted in the Japanese Garden behind the Core building, where their flowering blossoms will be visible from across the Outdoor Garden.

A Tradition Rooted in Japanese Culture

Cherry blossoms hold deep cultural meaning in Japan. The tradition of hanami, which translates as ‘gathering to view the blooms’, has been celebrated for centuries.

Each spring, millions of people and visitors travel to Japan’s most popular viewing spots to photograph and enjoy the displays, which usually last only one to two weeks. The blossoms symbolise the fleeting nature of beauty and life, and their brief appearance draws international attention each year.

Julie Kendall, outdoor horticulture manager at the Eden Project, said:

“We’re honoured to welcome these cherry trees as part of the Sakura Cherry Tree Project, which beautifully symbolises the friendship between Japan and the UK. They have been planted in companion with Acer trees, known for their vibrant autumnal colours, meaning the area will have rich colour all year round, and promises to be a real spectacle.”

Three Varieties of Cherry Tree

The 50 saplings planted at Eden include three different varieties of cherry tree, each with distinct seasonal colours. Visitors will be able to watch their progress in the years ahead, although the young trees are expected to take three to five years to establish and produce their full display.

The first to blossom is the Prunus x yedoensis, also known as the Yoshino cherry, which is the most commonly planted cherry tree in Japan. It produces lightly fragrant pale pink flowers that fade to white in late March. Later in the year the foliage turns orange to yellow and produces black fruits.

Two rarer varieties have also been planted. The Prunus ‘Tai-haku’, known as the great white cherry, produces striking single ice-white flowers in April. The variety was rescued from extinction after a single tree was discovered in Sussex and was reintroduced to Japan in 1932.

The third variety, Prunus ‘Beni-yutaka’, blooms soft pink flowers in mid to late April and its leaves turn deep red in autumn.

Hiroshima Survivor Tree to Join Garden

Later this spring, a young Gingko biloba will also be planted in the Japanese Garden. The tree is grown from the seed of a survivor tree that lived through the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945 during World War II.

The sapling symbolises nature’s resilience and ability to recover even after devastating events. It is one of six Gingko trees being planted across Cornwall as part of a global project led by the Mayors for Peace network, marking 80 years since the bombing.

Julie Kendall added:

“As we celebrate 25 years of Eden, not only will these plantings serve as a living reminder of the enduring friendship between Japan and the UK for generations to come, but it also tells the story of our dependence on plants and their rich cultural and historical symbolism. The cherry trees and Hiroshima Gingko are living examples of how horticulture connects us across borders and generations.”

More information about the Eden Project can be found on the Eden Project website.