
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
Ukraine demands army of 800,000 under peace plan - 2
Artemis 2 astronauts reveal adorable zero-g indicator 'Rise' | Space photo of the day for March 31, 2026 - 3
'We were genuinely astonished': This moss survived 9 months outside the International Space Station and could still grow on Earth - 4
Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson hospitalized, family requests prayers - 5
Vote In favor of Your Favored Language Interpretation Administration
The Ascent of the Kona SUV: How Hyundai's Reduced Hybrid Is Vanquishing the Streets
Native Americans had dice and games of probability long before other cultures, study finds
Nine in 10 German industrial firms expect Iran war to hit business
How will the universe end?
New research reveals urban raccoons across the US show early signs of domestication
Eating ultra-processed foods could raise precancerous polyp risk for women under 50, according to research
‘Serving is not just a place’: Bayside Church Granite Bay reimagines annual mission amid conflict in Mexico
A somber Thor is returning for 'Avengers: Doomsday': Watch the dread-filled teaser
Israeli media reports Iran attacking greater Tel Aviv region













