Every year between late March and early April, Portland’s cherry blossom trees welcome the spring with pretty pink petals all across the city. But strangely, almost all the cherry blossom trees in the city are native to Japan. So how did they get to Portland, Oregon?
Millions of years ago, wild cherries evolved in the Himalayas and spread across Asia. As part of the Prunus genus (a set of species sharing a common ancestor), they’re related to plums, apricots, peaches, nectarines and almonds. As wild cherries spread and diversified, a special species—the Oshima cherry—developed on the island of Japan.
Oshima cherry trees had large, picturesque blossoms and were easy to cultivate. These desirable traits led Japanese arborists—tree cultivators—to create over 300 different species of cherry blossom trees through cross-breeding and selection.
Up until the 20th century, the majority of cherry blossoms were concentrated in Japan, and didn’t exist outside of Asia. But in 1912, to celebrate friendship between Japan and the United States, the Japanese government donated a number of cherry blossoms to the United States, which were planted in Washington DC. These were the first cherry blossom specimens to ever reach North America.
Throughout the years, cherry blossoms spread throughout the US. New blossoms were either created from clones of the blossoms already in America, or further gifts from Japanese individuals, companies and the government.
No record exists for the first cherry blossom planted in Portland. Because of the ease for landowners to simply buy and plant cherry blossom trees, plantings were most likely done unceremoniously. However, some prominent cherry blossoms, like the ones that line Tom McCall Waterfront Park, do have a recorded history—and a significant meaning.
According to KGW8, in 1990, when the Japanese American Historical Plaza—a monument to the accomplishments and courage of Japanese Americans during World War II—was built, the Japanese Grain Traders Import Association donated 100 cherry blossoms to the city to celebrate its dedication.
Today, these blossoms take part in beautifying the city during the cherry blossom season, blooming in tandem with hundreds of other cherry blossoms in front yards, parks and art exhibits, helping to create a cityscape that everyone can enjoy.
