Cherry, Plum and Peach Blossom; Flowers Lookalike

Hello! Did you enjoy cherry blossom viewing this year?
In the Sake Museum, the Spring Exhibition ‘Blooming Cherry Blossoms in Poetry’ is being held. This exhibition highlights cherry blossoms that are expressed in the world of poetry such as waka and haiku. In the previous article about colors of cherry blossoms, in the world of waka, most people associate the word “flower” with cherry blossoms. How long has this perception been going on?

“Manyōshū,” the Japan’s oldest poetry collection, which is said to have been established in the Nara period (710-794) contains about 4500 poems. Among these, about plum are 120 poems and about cherry blossom are about 40 poems.
On the other hand, “Kokinwakashū,” which was established in the Heian period (794-1185) contains about 1100 poems. Among these, about plum are 18 poems and about cherry blossom are 70 poems. This suggests that “flower” means plum at the time of “Manyōshū,” and “flower” means cherry blossom at the time of “Kokinwakashū”.
During the Nara period (710-794), the culture of mainland China was introduced by Japanese envoys to Tang Dynasty, and the cultured people of that period were fond of plum and peach blossoms, which were often used as the subject of Chinese poetry.
However, after the Heian period (794-1185), because of the envoys to Tang Dinasty was abolished in 894, a national style culture adapted to the Japanese climate and sensibilities was developed. Then, the culture of loving cherry blossoms, which had originally grown wild in Japan was gradually established.
That is said that “Sakon no Sakura,” a cherry tree that is planted in the main palace of the Heian Imperial Court was used to be a plum tree.

Red Plum Blossom; Buds are solitary and alternate on branches.

Then, cherry, plum, and peach blossoms all belong to the same family, the rose family, and have very similar flowers. Many of you may have wondered which one is which when you see them around town. Do you know the way to distinguish them?

Plum flowers begin blooming the earliest of the three species, usually from late January to late April, depending on the region. Peach and cherry blossoms begin blooming from middle March at about the same time.

We can also distinguish by the way it blooms and its shape. Plum flowers have no petiole and appear to bloom directly from the branch. It is also characterized by one bloom per node. Peach blossoms have short petioles and appear to bloom from the branches like plums, but they have two flowers per node, making them more densely packed than plums. In addition, most of them produce leaves and flowers at the same time. Cherry blossoms, on the other hand, have a long petiole extending from a single node and multiple flowers.

Cherry Blossom; It has a long petiole extending from a single node and multiple flowers.

The shape of the petals is also different. Plum flowers are rounded, while peach blossoms are often thin and pointed. Cherry blossoms are incised and shaped like a heart.