What's the flowering tree in this picture?

August 2, 2014 4:58 PM

My fiancé proposed to me under a gorgeous tree, but I have no idea what it's called.

I was proposed to under a pretty weeping flowering pink tree at Shinjuku Gyoen, a national botanical garden in Tokyo. I'd like to use some of the flowers in my eventual bouquet, but I'm having a hard time finding the species with the google. Any botanists able to eyeball this one?

posted by petiteviolette to Home & Garden (5 answers total)

Best answer: Looks like a 'Kanzan'/'Kwanzan' flowering cherry at first glance. (The giveaway is the double pink flowers with the leaves present.) Might be tricky for a bouquet unless you get married at the perfect time in the spring.
posted by purpleclover at 5:08 PM on August 2, 2014

Definitely a cherry, and I agree that it's probably a Kwanzan cherry. We had one in our front yard in our last house. Beautiful flowers but definitely unavailable after mid- to late spring.
posted by devinemissk at 5:20 PM on August 2, 2014

Washington, DC area resident here, so very familiar with cherry trees. I'm thirding that this looks like a Kwanzan cherry.
posted by gudrun at 7:18 PM on August 2, 2014

Just popping in to say that is a lovely scene and I think those cherry blossoms will be beautiful in a bouquet. Congratulations!
posted by magdalemon at 8:37 PM on August 2, 2014 [1 favorite]

It is a Kwanzan Cherry. Beautiful tree! You could always have the flowers freeze-dried and included in your bouquet along with fresh flowers!
posted by Ostara at 8:37 PM on August 2, 2014