
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.
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.
“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 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.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
LATEST POSTS
- 1
Auschwitz Committee wants German auction of Holocaust items scrapped - 2
Watch Blue Origin's huge New Glenn rocket ace its epic landing on a ship at sea (video) - 3
Exclusive-Drugmakers raise US prices on 350 medicines despite pressure from Trump - 4
Images of Bangladeshi motorcyclists sleeping at petrol pumps are AI-generated - 5
Oil Tanker Carrying Iraqi Cargo Seen Transiting Strait of Hormuz
First part of major new German-Danish tunnel cleared for lowering
Satellite constellations could obscure most space telescope observations by late 2030s: 'That part of the image will be forever lost'
Colombia's military rescues 6 siblings who hid in the rainforest to escape from a rebel group
Ministry: New German petrol price regulation takes effect on April 1
SpaceX's 1st 'Version 3' Super Heavy Starship booster buckles under pressure during initial tests
Dad issues urgent plea to find stem cell donor for his son
IDF struck Iran's largest petrochemical plant, second facility hit in two days, Katz confirms
Figure out How to Modify Your Pre-assembled Home for Greatest Solace and Stylish Allure
How Would You Like to Deal with Your Funds?












