Stumpy, the little cherry tree that could, no longer can

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1. Stumpy, DC's famous cherry blossom tree, dead at 25

Stumpy, DC’s famous cherry blossom tree, dead at 25

Dana Sukontarak | [e-mail]
Ivy Lyons | [e-mail]
May 25, 2024, 6:58 AM


File photo of Stumpy, the cherry blossom tree at the Tidal Basin in D.C. (WTOP/Jimmy Alexander)

Stumpy, a crowd-favorite cherry blossom tree at D.C.’s Tidal Basin, has died at the estimated age of 25. It was the victim of failing seawalls requiring repair, according to a statement from the National Park Service.

Stumpy’s exact age had been unknown for years due to a lack of countable rings inside its hollowed trunk. ... As hollow as his stump may have been, many people said Stumpy was a tiny cherry blossom tree with a whole lot of heart — and one with a whole lot of fans. Stumpy was slight yet iconic, capturing the hearts of D.C. residents and tourists who were all rooting for the little tree through its final moments.

Born and raised in the tough waters of the Tidal Basin, Stumpy was known amongst its arboreal peers as a sweetheart and even a class clown. It especially loved to take photos with visitors, never allowing its mounting health concerns to compromise its flowery smile. ... During his last bloom, visitors came to the Tidal Basin to share hopes and well wishes for the little cherry tree that could, encouraging the National Parks Service to #SaveStumpy any way it could.

Stumpy first stepped into the spotlight circa 2020, when it went viral on Reddit for being compared to one user’s love life. ... Leading up to its death, it entered what tree doctors called a “mortality spiral” — dealing with old age, it also had sun scalding on its bark, advancing fungi, and lived in depleted and compacted soils.

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Dana Sukontarak
Dana Sukontarak is a Digital Writer/Editor for WTOP.com. She loves haiku poetry, short sci-fi stories and word games. She grew up in Prince George’s County, Maryland, and currently lives in Silver Spring.

[e-mail]
@LilAPStyle

Ivy Lyons
Ivy Lyons is a digital journalist for WTOP.com. Since 2018, they have worked on Capitol Hill, at NBC News in Washington, and with WJLA in Washington.

[e-mail]
@IvyALyons