CARING FOR THE CHERRY TREES
The blooming of the cherry trees on the National Mall’s Tidal Basin each spring is a beloved Washington tradition, a harbinger of spring for all Americans and a delight for bloom-watchers from across the globe. First planted in 1912, the cherry trees are celebrating their 112th anniversary in 2024.
Today, many of the trees are showing their age. In addition, the effects of the changing climate and damage from storms and daily flooding are taking a toll on the trees. The trees need care year-round and many trees need replacement to ensure they will continue to bloom for generations to come.
The Trust for the National Mall and National Cherry Blossom Festival are working together on the Adopt a Cherry Tree Campaign to raise funds to help the National Park Service care for and protect the cherry trees all year long and throughout the lifetime of each tree. The Trust is grateful to all who support its Adopt a Cherry Tree program and the important work of the National Park Service that will ensure the treasured trees continue to bloom for generations to come.
ABOUT THE ADOPT A CHERRY TREE CAMPAIGN
For 112 years, the Cherry Trees on the National Mall have been a beloved cultural symbol and annual destination that draws in visitors from around the world to our nation’s capital. Living symbols of friendship and diplomacy, the trees have adorned the National Mall waterfront since 1912, when the Mayor of Tokyo gifted the cherry trees to the United States. A dedicated group of naturalists, donors, and civic leaders had advocated for the cherry trees for years, petitioning to the Superintendent of the National Park Service and eventually captivating the attention of First Lady Helen Taft who elevated their campaign. As an enduring symbol of the friendship between the United States and Japan, the trees have remained a hallmark of a lasting cultural exchange.
The Trust for the National Mall is proud to partner with the National Park Service to steward the trees to ensure they bloom and endure for generations to come. The Adopt a Cherry Tree campaign was created as a way for private donations to bolster the public resources dedicated to maintaining the trees all throughout the year. Without additional care and resources these iconic trees will not thrive, grow and bloom.
Damage from weather, flooding, the effects of the changing climate, and foot traffic in America’s most visited National Park pose an ongoing threat to the trees. They require year-round tending to bloom in the spring, and one hundred trees are replaced annually.
The cost to maintain and care for the Cherry Trees far exceeds the federal support they receive. Public-private partnership was critical to bringing the trees to Washington and is needed now more than ever for their ongoing care.
The Trust has a financial goal to raise $1000 to endow each tree over the course of its lifetime. With 3,700 cherry trees on the National Mall, raising $3.7 million is an ambitious goal. Your support today moves us closer to reaching our goal tomorrow. You can make an individual gift, start or join a crowdfunding team, and receive recognition for your support. Each donation benefits the Trust’s Adopt a Cherry Tree Campaign, which supports the National Park Service’s year-round care and maintenance to help protect these iconic trees.
The Cherry Trees belong to all of us. The Trust seeks ambassadors who share our commitment to environmental sustainability and who are willing to join our mission to preserve this cultural landscape and living symbol of friendship and diplomacy.
ABOUT THE TRUST FOR THE NATIONAL MALL
As the leading nonprofit, nonpartisan philanthropic partner of the National Park Service dedicated to restoring, preserving, and enriching the National Mall, the Trust brings expertise, private funding, and in-kind support to time-sensitive restoration and sustainability projects. The Trust also mobilizes a volunteer operation to provide educational opportunities to ensure that the National Mall endures and evolves as a vibrant civic stage for all. With over 36 million annual visits, the National Mall’s aging infrastructure and outdated visitor amenities are in urgent need of repair and improvement as we prepare for America’s 250th anniversary in 2026. The Trust is also the philanthropic partner of President’s Park, adjacent to the National Mall.