A cherry blossom is the flower of the cherry trees known as sakura . In English, "sakura" refers to the Japanese flowering cherry, Prunus serrulata. Cherry fruit comes from another species of tree.
japan cherry blossom
Natural history
Cherry blossoms are indigenous to many East Asian states including Japan, Korea, and China. Japan has a wide variety of cherry blossoms (sakura): well over 200 cultivars can be found there.
In Japan they don't celebrate Easter but springtime in Japan is when everything goes Cherry Blossom (Sakura) crazy. The cherry blossom is Japan's unofficial national flower. It has been celebrated for many centuries and takes a very prominent position in Japanese culture. Around late March the whole nation excitedly waits for the first buds to appear on cherry trees. The 'sakura-zensen, the 'cherry-blossom-front' works slowly northwards from the south islands until it finally reaches the northern tip of Hokkaido in May and the whole process is broadcast on television rather like a weather report showing different areas of the country as various shades of pink depending on the status of their cherry blossoms. Accompanying the front are hanami, the 'flower-viewing' parties celebrating these short-lived blooms. Everywhere in Tokyo is pink at the moment; even the Kit Kats have gone pink!