Cherry Blossoms: Everything You Need To Know
If you ever want to feel dazzlingly charming and pretty (even in your oldest jogging bottoms), go and stand under a blooming cherry blossom tree. The delicate pink petals fluttering down on you will feel like confetti on a wedding day.
Cherry blossoms epitomise romance. But what makes cherry blossoms so special? Yes, they’re beautiful, but what is the meaning behind the bloom? How should they be displayed in an arrangement?
There’s no question, cherry blossoms are some of our favourite blooms, but here’s why.
What do cherry blossoms symbolise?
Every flower has a special meaning, and cherry blossoms are no different. They are, of course, a symbol of spring, but they’re also associated with love and affection – specifically the love we hold for our friends and family.
Cherry blossom flower meaning in Japan
In Japanese culture, the cherry blossom flower's meaning is something else entirely. Pink flowers like cherry blossoms are linked with masculinity, particularly during the samurai period, and are also linked with good health. Gifting a single stem of cherry blossom is a symbol of education and is often given to a child on their first day of school. Let’s talk a little more about the relevance of cherry blossoms in Japan.
What happens at a Japanese cherry blossom festival?
Every spring, in Japan, there are ritual viewings of cherry blossoms. These festivals, now famous worldwide, date back to the 700s. The cherry blossom blooms (‘sakura’ in Japanese) symbolise renewal, and because they are so short-lived, they also speak of the fleeting nature of life.
The festivals are often referred to as 'hanami', an ancient tradition of enjoying the blossoms of cherry trees in parks and throughout the countryside in Japan. While 'hanami' literally means ‘viewing flowers', the word has long been used to describe enjoying cherry blossoms, dating back to when aristocrats wrote poems about them.
Today, the cherry blossom festival sees thousands of people flocking to parks and having a picnic under the trees.
How does cherry blossom grow?
Cherry blossoms grow abundantly on trees. As anyone lucky enough to live on a street in West London knows, they can transform a street into an enchanting wonderland. We use cherry blossoms in our flower subscription arrangements, arriving to customers in bud form. Give them just a few days in your vase, and soon the buds will burst into life.
How to arrange cherry blossom flowers in a vase?
Do your cherry blossoms justice by displaying them in a way that best flaunts their beauty. Let’s start with the vase – we recommend choosing a vase that is about half the height of your branches. Next, you’ll want to remove any lower leaves from your flowers before placing the tallest flowers in your vase. As for the shorter, more delicate branches, you’ll want to place them around the taller branches to create a look that feels both natural and purposeful.
How long do cut cherry blossom stems last?
You can expect your cut cherry blossom stems to last anywhere from seven to 14 days in a vase. In order to get the most out of their vibrance, display them in a cool room and change the water every few days.
What are the best flowers to pair with cherry blossoms in a spring bouquet?
Given that our cherry blossoms arrive looking like twigs, we’ll always match cherry blossoms with dominating flowers, such as lilies, tulips, snapdragons, or asters that will open up with the blossom.
Where does Freddie’s Flowers cherry blossom come from?
It may spark beautiful visions of Japan and its 'hakura', but we get our cherry blossoms from some lovely growers in Holland, so it is less far to travel. They also grow it to order to minimise waste.
We only use cherry blossoms once a year, making them special. We love matching them with snapdragons, alstroemeria, and pink lilies for a bright, happy arrangement that signals warmer times to come.
Subscribe to Freddie’s Flowers today or gift flowers to your loved ones this spring. If you have any questions about our cherry blossoms, don’t hesitate to contact us or take a look at our about us page.
