Question: is there a difference between a cherry tree and a cherry blossom tree

title: Cherry blossom
text: Japan gave 3,020 cherry blossom trees as a gift to the United States in 1912 to celebrate the nations ' then - growing friendship , replacing an earlier gift of 2,000 trees which had to be destroyed due to disease in 1910 . These trees were planted in Sakura Park in Manhattan and line the shore of the Tidal Basin and the roadway in East Potomac Park in Washington , D.C. The first two original trees were planted by first lady Helen Taft and Viscountess Chinda on the bank of the Tidal Basin . The gift was renewed with another 3,800 trees in 1965 . In Washington , D.C. the cherry blossom trees continue to be a popular tourist attraction ( and the subject of the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival ) when they reach full bloom in early spring . Just outside of Washington , D.C. , the suburb of Kenwood in Bethesda , Maryland has roughly 1,200 trees that are popular with locals and tourists .