WASHINGTON – Nearly six months have gone by since the capital mourned the heartbreaking news that Stumpy was facing its end.

This small cherry tree, which struggled to grow, captured the affection of locals and tourists alike. The announcement of its impending demise, made just before the city’s famous cherry blossoms reached full bloom in March, drew many visitors to pay their respects at Stumpy’s spot along the Tidal Basin. A movement to “save Stumpy” began, along with an online petition that collected nearly 1,000 signatures.

But now, the hope for Stumpy is revived.

Fans of Stumpy worldwide are filled with renewed hope as five small clones of Stumpy are sprouting at the National Arboretum, which may eventually be planted back at the Tidal Basin in memory of the cherished tree.

“Currently, they are thriving, strong, and looking great,” reported Piper Zettel, a horticulturalist at the arboretum.

However, the young trees still face challenges—despite the best conditions, the success of the propagation process is not guaranteed, according to Zettel.

Nevertheless, they have overcome the most critical stages, Zettel noted—showing a favorable survival rate at 20 days, meeting a satisfactory rooting percentage after four weeks, and displaying leaf retention and new growth by the eight-week point.

“There are numerous factors, including environmental conditions, that we cannot control,” she explained.

Stumpy among many trees removed from the Tidal Basin

Stumpy’s future seemed uncertain after it was uprooted due to a National Park Service initiative aimed at addressing erosion along the Tidal Basin and Potomac River. In total, over 140 cherry trees were taken down for a $113 million, three-year project to repair the seawall.

Ironically, what endeared Stumpy to so many—the tree’s unique appearance—was also indicative of its declining health, experts explained to YSL News.

Stumpy was already showing signs of decline, according to Scott Diffenderfer, a consulting arborist who observed Stumpy’s situation. He previously mentioned to YSL News, “It would be nearly impossible to save that tree or extend its life significantly.”

From April to May, a team of horticulturalists from the National Arboretum took cuttings from Stumpy to cultivate new, genetically identical trees.

“This is a standard horticultural procedure, collecting material at various times during a tree’s propagation phase. This can enhance the likelihood of a successful growth,” Zettel remarked.

Zettel is in charge of propagating Stumpy’s cuttings, turning them into new plants. The cuttings were handled and moved to the Arboretum’s greenhouse.

Horticulturalists carefully nurture Stumpy clones

Zettel mentioned that one of the main challenges was Stumpy’s short stature—there were very few branches available for collection, and those that existed were small.

“The material we collected wasn’t ideal for propagation,” she noted. “It hadn’t reached a sufficient length for optimal growth.”

The new trees, known scientifically as propagules, are genetically the same as Stumpy, but they won’t inherit the environmental flaws that affected Stumpy.

Zettel mentioned that these trees, being a type of Yoshino cherry tree, are expected to display the usual characteristics of their species, which are predominantly found around the Tidal Basin.

A horticulturist inspects the young trees each day to provide water as needed, and they are fertilized weekly.

“We aim not to keep their roots too soggy. Right now, they’re being watered every couple of days,” she explained.

According to Zettel, their rapid growth might soon necessitate a transfer to larger pots. They could be replanted multiple times before they are finally moved outside, depending on their growth rate.

The arboretum intends to replant the young trees around the Tidal Basin when they’re ready to thrive independently, which is expected to be in about two to three years.

Mike Litterst, the chief of communications for the National Park Service, expressed in an email to YSL News, “We are delighted that the National Arboretum has successfully propagated the cherry tree known as Stumpy. We eagerly anticipate replanting the cherry trees around the renovated Tidal Basin seawall in a nurturing environment.”