Do you know your damson from your blackthorn? Blossom comes in many shapes, sizes and colours, and telling them apart can be challenging. Find out how to spot different types of blossom in your local area with this blossom-spotting guide.
Apple blossom is one of the easiest to spot, as it’s white with a hint of pink and a sweet fragrance. Appearing from March to April, it grows in hedgerows, gardens, orchards and scrubland. The leaves appear a few weeks before the flowers emerge.
Blackthorn bursts into flower in February and March with white blossom appearing before the leaves. The petals are oval and long stamens tumble out from the centre. You can find it in hedgerows and scrub.
Look out for ornamental cherry trees in gardens and parks and wild cherry blossom around woodlands throughout March and April. They flower in shades of pink or white, sometimes with dense, frilly petals and sometimes with a single layer of petals. These subtly scented flowers appear before the leaves, hanging in umbrella-shaped clusters.
Damson trees are small and hardy with dark green, oval shaped leaves with a lightly serrated edge. They blossom with small white oval-shaped petals in early April. You can often find it in mixed woodlands, hedgerows, parks, gardens and along pavements.
The highly scented hawthorn flowers from late April and into May, so it’s also known as the mayflower. You can often find it in hedgerows, on the edges of woodlands and in scrubland. Identify it by its small rounded white petals in groups of five around bright pink anthers.
The delicate white flowers of pear trees emerge from green buds in March or April, and some varieties grow in gardens, orchards and along the streets. Look out for dense clusters of white flowers with five petals and red anthers.
You can see plum trees in gardens and orchards, as well as near hedges and areas of scrubland where plum stones may have been dropped. Keep an eye out for small, rounded clusters of fragrant white flowers blooming on dark branches around March and April.
Spring is the season of rebirth when dormant trees start to bloom again. Two of the most beloved spring bloomers are the apple blossom tree and the cherry blossom tree. While both erupt in gorgeous flowers in early spring, there are some key differences between these two species.
When Do They Bloom?
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Cherry blossom trees typically bloom earlier in spring than apple blossom trees Cherry blossoms generally bloom from late March to early May In warmer climates, they may start as early as mid-February. In colder areas, cherry blossom season may not begin until April.
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Apple blossoms bloom a bit later, from mid-April to early June. In warmer regions, apple blossoms can emerge in late March, while in colder areas they won’t appear until May.
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In most temperate regions, expect to see cherry blossoms first, followed by apple blossoms a few weeks later as temperatures continue rising. For cherry blossom viewing, target late March to mid-April. For apple blossoms, late April to mid-May is ideal.
Flower Color
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Cherry blossom hues range from light pink to vibrant reddish-pink. A cherry tree in full bloom is a vision of delicate pinkish petals.
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Apple blossoms are almost always white or pale pink when they first emerge, later fading to white. Some apple varieties may have a faint pinkish tinge, but lack the rich pink of cherries.
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Deep pink blooms likely indicate cherries. For white and pale pink blossoms, it’s probably an apple tree.
Flower Shape and Structure
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Cherry blossoms generally have just five petals per flower, sometimes ruffled or layered for a frilly effect. Flowers are arranged in dangling clusters, giving a weeping appearance.
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Apple blossoms often have five smooth petals surrounding a central cluster of many small stamens. The dense stamens create a round, pom-pom shape.
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So apple blossoms look fuller and more compact compared to the more open and airy cherry blossoms.
Fragrance
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Cherry blossoms emit a subtle, fresh floral scent. You may need to sniff the blooms directly to detect it.
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Apple blossoms are highly fragrant, filling the air with sweet citrus, honey, and rose notes. Their perfume is noticeable from afar.
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Apple blossoms tend to be more noticeably aromatic. Their sweet scent can be detected from yards away!
Native Habitats
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Cherry trees thrive in temperate zones with cool winters and warm, humid summers. They prefer sandy, acidic, well-draining soil. In the U.S., cherries grow best along the coasts.
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Apple trees adapt to many soil and moisture conditions but prefer slightly acidic loam. They require cold temperatures to flower properly. Apples are commercially grown across most of the continental U.S.
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So apple trees have a much wider native range than cherries. Flowering trees in the wild are more likely to be cherries in coastal areas and apples farther inland.
Orchard Planting Patterns
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Cultivated cherry trees are spaced widely in orchards, up to 30 feet apart, to prevent disease spread and allow large equipment access.
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Apple trees are typically planted just 8-14 feet apart in dense, orderly rows to maximize productivity. Closer spacing means more trees per orchard.
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Widely spaced rows indicate a cherry orchard, while dense, crowded plantings suggest apples.
After Bloom: Fruit Development
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Fertilized cherry blossoms become cherries, ripening June through August depending on variety.
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Pollinated apple blossoms transform into apples in late summer into fall. Different apple varieties ripen July through November.
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Revisiting in summer and fall reveals the truth – cherry trees bear cherries while apple trees yield apples!
Cultural Significance
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In Japan, cherry blossoms symbolize nature’s impermanence and renewal. The hanami tradition of viewing cherries dates back centuries.
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Apple blossoms represent promise, hope, and new beginnings in many cultures. In mythology, they signified eternal youth.
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Cherry trees reflect the fleeting nature of life while apple blossoms signify the future yet to unfold.
While sharing some traits, cherry and apple blossoms each contribute unique beauty to spring. Apples flower later for a more drawn-out bloom season, while ephemeral cherry blossoms provide a quicker burst of magic.
Use bloom time, color, structure, fragrance, habitat, fruit, and cultural meaning to distinguish between these two beloved flowering trees. With a discerning eye, you’ll be able to tell apple from cherry blossoms in no time!
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How to Identify Plum, Pear, Crabapple, and Cherry Blossoms and Trees
FAQ
Are apple blossoms the same as cherry blossoms?
Apple Blossom: The Fragrant Harbinger of Fruit
These blossoms, which range from white to pink, are a little sturdier than cherry blossoms and are known for their sweet smell. Apple blossoms usually have five petals, arranged in a star-like shape. One of the easiest ways to identify an apple blossom is by its buds.
What is the difference between an apple tree and a cherry tree?
Apples/crab apples bloom alongside new leaves. Also cherry petals have a notch and are not as perfectly round. Cherry bark often has horizontal markings (lenticles). Cherry leaves have 2 small bumps (glands) at the base of each leaf, apples/crab apples do not.
What trees are mistaken for cherry blossoms?
Apricots (Prunus armeniaca), peaches (P. persica), and nectarines (also P. persica) have showy spring blossoms that all resemble cherries. They may be white or pink, depending on the cultivar or hybrid.
What do apple blossoms look like?
Apple blossoms often have five delicate, smooth-edged petals surrounding a central cluster of many small stamens (the pollen-producing parts of the flower). The clustered stamens give apple blossoms a rounder, pompom-like shape. So apple blossoms tend to look fuller and more condensed, while cherry blossoms appear more airy and layered.
What is the difference between Apple vs Cherry Blossoms?
Beyond botany, apple vs. cherry blossoms have very different cultural symbolism: In Japan, cherry blossoms represent renewal and the impermanence of life. Hanami, the traditional custom of viewing cherry blossoms, dates back centuries and is celebrated with viewing parties under the trees.
What is the difference between Apple Blossom and plum blossom?
Below: Apple blossom tends to be coloured while pear and plum tends to be white. For example, white blossoms are common on apple, pear, and cherry trees, while pink blossoms are common on peach, plum, and nectarine trees. Blossom colour fades after the flowers have opened. Arrangement of flowers:
What is the difference between cherry trees and cherry blossom trees?
Essentially, both trees are related and produce similar flowers and fruits. However, cherry trees are grown for their tasty fruits, while cherry blossom trees are grown for their beautiful flowers, and neither can compete with the other in the opposing category. The biggest difference between these two trees is during their flowering period.
What is the difference between apple & cherry trees?
Apples flower later for a prolonged bloom season, while fleeting cherry blossoms provide a quicker burst of magic. Distinguish between these two flowering tree varieties by bloom time, flower color, structure, fragrance, habitat, fruit development, and cultural meanings. With a trained eye, you’ll be able to spot the difference in no time!
What is the difference between Apple Blossom and blueberry Blossom?
Below: Apple blossoms have 5 petals and 5 sepals, while blueberry blossoms have coalesced petals and sepals. Apple leaves are also oval-shaped, while blueberry leaves are elliptical. Here is a table that summarises some of the key differences between fruit tree and fruit bush blossom: