The most popular cherry blossom in Japan is the Somei Yoshino, which has nearly pure white petals, with a hint of pink close to the stem. This variety of cherry blossom takes its name from the village of Somei (now part of Toshima in Tokyo). It was developed in the mid- to late-19th century at the end of the Edo period and the beginning of the Meiji period. The Somei Yoshino is so widely associated with cherry blossoms that jidaigeki and other works of fiction often depict the variety in the Edo period or earlier; such depictions are anachronismsEach flower has a short life which may last a week, but that short life can be cut short by strong winds or rain which can cause the petals to fall or scatter in the wind. It is this short dramatic and potentially fickle life of the cherry blossom that also influences their role in traditional Japanese culture.
The cherry blossom appear on the trees before the green of the leaves, this makes their sight even more dramatic as the trees in full bloom look almost white from top to bottom. .
Other categories of cherry blossom include yamazakura, yaezakura, and shidarezakura. The yaezakura have large flowers, thick with rich pink petals. The shidarezakura, or weeping cherry, has branches that fall like those of a weeping willow, bearing cascades of pink flowers.