Stumpy (tree)

Stumpy is descended from the 3,020 trees gifted to the United States by Tokyo Mayor Yukio Ozaki in 1912 as a symbol of Japanese-American friendship.{{Cite news |last=Constable |first=Pamela |date=2007-04-18 |title=Nurturing a Legacy of Fleeting Blossoms and Enduring Bonds |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/07/AR2007040701318.html |newspaper=Washington Post}}{{Cite web |title=Types of Trees - Cherry Blossom Festival (U.S. National Park Service) |url=https://www.nps.gov/subjects/cherryblossom/types-of-trees.htm |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=www.nps.gov |language=en}}

The National Park Service estimates that Stumpy was planted in 1999; however, because its trunk is hollowed and has no tree rings, it's difficult to know exactly how old the tree is.{{Cite web |last=Ruf |first=Jessica |date=2024-03-20 |title=The Story Behind "Stumpy"—DC's Most Beloved Tree |url=https://www.washingtonian.com/2024/03/20/people-cant-get-enough-stumpy-whats-the-story-behind-dcs-most-beloved-tree/ |access-date=2024-05-06 |language=en-US}}

Climate change and the sinking of the Tidal Basin's sea wall contributed to the tree's demise.{{Cite web |last=More |first=Maggie |date=2024-03-23 |title=Why Stumpy, the 'Little Cherry Tree That Could,' can't be transplanted — and how he'll live on anyway |url=https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/why-stumpy-the-little-cherry-tree-that-could-cant-be-transplanted-and-how-hell-live-on-anyway/3572754/ |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=NBC4 Washington |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Fenston |first=Jacob |date=2024-03-19 |title=So long, Stumpy. More than 150 of D.C.'s cherry trees have to go as water rises |url=https://www.npr.org/2024/03/19/1238896379/cherry-blossom-trees-remove-stumpy-climate-change-washington-dc |website=NPR}} Overall, land has sunk by five feet while water levels had risen by one foot. This combination had led to the land around the basin flooding twice a day at high tide. In addition to being waterlogged, the tree is also victim to sun-scalding, overgrowth of fungi, and compacted soil.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a Reddit user posted a photo of the tree in the "r/washingtondc" subreddit and compared Stumpy's appearance to their love life. Social media posts and accompanying traditional media increased the tree's notoriety. Posts often focused on the ability of the tree to bloom despite its condition and harsh environment. Axios, a news media outlet, also compared the tree to Tiny Timber, an undersized Christmas tree in D.C.'s Columbia Heights Civic Plaza in 2022.{{Cite web |last=Montgomery |first=Mimi |date=March 15, 2024 |title=RIP Stumpy: D.C.'s favorite short king will be cut down this year |url=https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2024/03/15/stumpy-cut-down-cherry-tree |website=Axios D.C.}} After the tree's rise to fame, individuals had left flowers, art, gifts, and bottles of liquids at the base of the tree.

The tree had been described by National Park Service workers as a 'folk hero', being the most asked-about tree along the Tidal Basin. Additionally, the tree had become anthropomorphized to the point that the public more often uses masculine pronouns than "it" when referring to the tree.

In early 2024, it was announced by the National Park Service that Stumpy would be one of 153 cherry trees removed as part of a $113 million project to repair the Tidal Basin's sea wall. By this time, Stumpy had become too brittle and hollowed out to be successfully transplanted to a different location. Instead, in April 2024, the National Park Service and National Arboretum took clippings of Stumpy to propagate new cherry trees that are genetically the same as Stumpy. These propagations have been referred to as "baby Stumpies" and "Stumpy 2.0" by media outlets. The tree was removed on Friday, May 24, 2024.{{Cite web |last=Petworth |first=Prince of |date=2024-05-22 |title=“Stumpy is dead” (soon) - PoPville |url=https://www.popville.com/2024/05/stumpy-is-dead/ |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=PoPville - Welcome to the beautiful life |language=en}} In mid-August 2024, the National Arboretum announced that the clippings of Stumpy had been successfully cloned, with five viable clones.{{Cite news |last=Swenson |first=Kyle |date=14 August 2024 |title=Stumpy 2.0: Clones of beloved Tidal Basin cherry tree are thriving |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/08/14/stumpy-clones-national-arboretum-horticulturist/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240814234213/https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/08/14/stumpy-clones-national-arboretum-horticulturist/ |archive-date=14 August 2024 |access-date=15 August 2024 |work=The Washington Post}}

• DC-based photographer and freelance Washington Post writer Kevin Ambrose released a Stumpy-themed calendar in 2024.
• Beginning in 2024, Stumpy was named the official mascot of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10-Mile and 5K runs.{{Cite web |title=Meet Stumpy {{!}} Credit Union Cherry Blossom |url=https://www.cherryblossom.org/race-weekend/meet-stumpy/ |access-date=2024-05-06 |language=en-US}}
• The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum released 2,025 limited-edition Stumpy bobbleheads in 2025.{{Cite web |last=More |first=Maggie |date=2025-05-03 |title=You can now preorder the Stumpy bobblehead of your dreams |url=https://www.nbcwashington.com/entertainment/the-scene/cherry-blossoms-dc/you-can-now-preorder-the-stumpy-bobblehead-of-your-dreams/3905362/ |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=NBC4 Washington |language=en-US}}

Category:Individual trees in the District of Columbia

Category:Landmarks in Washington, D.C.

Category:Southwest (Washington, D.C.)

Category:2024 disestablishments in Washington, D.C.