Small flowers of any of several trees of the genus Prunus, especially the Japanese Cherry ([i]Prunus serrulata[/i], the suffix a Latin rendering of [i]sakura[/i]). Usually seen falling or scattered as [[petals]].

Cherry blossoms, especially the [[pink flower|pink]] ones of the [i]Prunus serrulata[/i], are a significant visual motif in Japanese culture; as their period of flowering that lasts little more than a week during the spring is thought to symbolically convey an awareness of the brilliant, yet impermanent nature of life. The term [i]mono no aware[/i] (物の哀れ, literally 'the pathos of things') was coined by 18th century scholar Motoori Norinaga to describe this concept as a theme found in classical Japanese literature, and associated it with the cherry blossom motif. 

The white-colored autumn and winter blossoms (冬桜, [i]fuyuzakura[/i]) of the higan cherry tree ([i]Prunus subhirtella autumnalis[/i]) are a notable variant, coming into bloom during those seasons. 

In anime and manga, besides straightforward symbolization of youth and verve, the [[flower_(symbol)|symbol]] may be used to denote gentle and/or affectionate characters; though this usage can sometimes be ironic. 

In [[Touken Ranbu]], cherry blossoms indicate that a character has a [[gameplay mechanics|buff]].

[[Cherry tree]]s in anime art are almost always drawn in bloom, but the actual cherries don't grow until the blossoms are long gone. For images of cherry trees bearing fruit, search for {{cherry fruit_tree}}.

Distinguished from [[plum blossoms]] in that cherry petals have slits at the ends of the petals. Plum petal ends on the other hand are round ("see reference":/media_assets/7899985).

h4. See also

* [[Cherry blossom print]]
* [[Hanami]]
* [[Pink theme]]
* [[Sakuramon]]

* [[Ohka (weapon)]]

h4. External links

* "Wikipedia: Cherry blossom":https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry_blossom
* "What is the Difference Between Plum and Cherry Blossom?":https://livejapan.com/en/article-a0004908/
桜 桜吹雪 樱花 桜の花