When it comes to cherry blossom trees, they are particularly loved during the early spring season every year, especially the cherry blossoms at Wuhan University.
Every year, during the blooming season of cherry blossoms, the scenery is so beautiful that it attracts a "sea of people." This is because cherry blossoms have a very short blooming period, usually withering after about 15 days.
Are cherry blossom trees' fruits edible?
Many people may have a misconception about the fruits of cherry blossom trees because there is a fruit called "cherry."
Many people mistakenly believe that the fruit of cherry blossom trees is "cherry." However, cherry blossom trees and cherry trees are two different species, although cherry blossom trees also bear fruit.
Usually, after admiring the cherry blossoms, people pay little attention to their fruits. Cherry blossoms are ornamental trees that bloom in early spring with flower colors ranging from white, pink to red. The fruits of cherry blossoms usually form in May and it is best not to eat them.
The fruits on cherry blossom trees are actually a type of cherry, but they are not edible. Cherries come from fruit trees, while cherry blossom trees are mainly grown for their flowers.
In terms of plant taxonomy, cherry blossom trees and cherry trees are "closely related." Single-petal cherry blossoms and cherry trees have similar flower shapes and their fruits are also similar.
What do cherry blossom trees' fruits look like?
The color of cherry blossom fruits is usually red when they first appear and later turns to black or dark purple.
Their shape is spherical, similar to cherries, but the taste of cherry fruits is generally sweet and sour, while cherry blossom fruits are slightly bitter, with thick skin, less flesh, a larger pit, and smaller size, making them not suitable for consumption.
When cherry blossoms fade and form cherries, it sounds as natural as peach blossoms fading to form peaches or apple blossoms fading to form apples. However, the cherry blossoms we usually refer to, after the flowers fade and form fruits, are not cherries and do not have the sweet taste of cherries. They are small and tart.
Although the flowers of cherry trees are also very beautiful, there are still some differences between them and cherry blossoms.
They actually belong to the same family and are quite closely related. They are both plants of the Rosaceae subfamily Prunus. Cherry blossoms belong to the cherry genus, while cherries belong to the plum genus, making them two different plants.
Cherry blossoms can be divided into single-petal and double-petal types. Single-petal types can bloom and bear fruit, while double-petal types usually do not. Cherry flowers are the flowers of cherry trees, which are different from cherry blossoms. Their fruits are edible cherries, also known as "cherries" in Cantonese.
This article shares comprehensive knowledge about whether cherry blossom trees' fruits are toxic when eaten and whether they are edible, hoping to help you.