
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
Unfathomable and Entertaining Legal disputes That Surprise everyone - 2
Vote in favor of your #1 Kind of Cap - 3
Pope Leo XIV calls for urgent climate action and says God’s creation is 'crying out' - 4
Eurasian cargo hub expands to capture Europe-Asia freight flows - 5
Nutrient Rich Natural products: Lift Your Wellbeing
James Webb Space Telescope watches 'Jekyll and Hyde' galaxy shapeshift into a cosmic monster
Sound Maturing: Wellbeing Tips for Each Life Stage
Winter virus season so far is not too bad, but doctors worry about suffering to come
Novo Nordisk justifies reasoning behind failed GLP-1 Alzheimer's trials
Israel issues notice that Ben-Gurion Airport flights likely restricted until at least April 16
What is Fusarium graminearum, the fungus a Chinese scientist pleaded guilty to smuggling into the US?
Discovery of ancient pleasure boat reveals Egypt's maritime history
A Russian fighting for Ukraine conned the Kremlin out of $500,000 by faking his own death
When is MLK Day? Plus, the dates of when other federal holidays land in 2026.













