Stumpy’s legacy lives on in the form of tiny “Stumplings!”
Stumpy, a gnarled cherry blossom tree that beat the odds, clinging to life at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., became a social media celebrity during the pandemic. Many were disappointed to see Stumpy and 100 other cherry trees cut down this year as part of a major renovation project along the Tidal Basin to address the daily brackish flooding. The salty water was slowly killing the trees, including Stumpy.
Clippings were taken from Stumpy and brought to the National Arboretum. Five little “Stumplings” have now taken root!
“The rooted cuttings are still vulnerable and will require years of patient nurturing before any of them are ready for their public debut,” according to the Associated Press. Ideally, the so-called Stumpy clones can be planted when the seawall project is complete in 2026, but it’s not clear if the tiny trees will be ready by then.
