The twisted, stunted and yet beloved cherry blossom tree known as “Stumpy” that inspired a loyal following on social media and beyond may be coming back to life — in a sense. The original Stumpy is no longer standing. It was cut down to make way for the restoration of a crumbling seawall at the Washington D.C. Tidal Basin.
However, as reported on Wednesday, Aug. 14, clones of the tree, affectionately called “Stumpy 2.0,” are now taking root. They could be returned to the original home of Stumpy in the near future.
Workers with the National Arboretum collected clippings and samples of the iconic tree earlier this year and took them to a protective cooler for preservation at the National Arboretum.
“What’s beautiful about what’s happening to Stumpy is that it’s being rejuvenated. It’s being turned into mulch and seedlings for future trees, and that’s the purpose. It’s this ongoing life cycle,” said Catherine Townsend, the president and CEO of the Trust for the National Mall.
Now, after being replanted and nurtured, the arboretum said that it has five little “stumplings” that are self-sustaining. Horticulturists are hopeful but also warn that the process is “complicated and delicate,” and there is no guarantee that their efforts will ultimately be successful. The rooted cuttings will still require careful handling and years of nurturing.
There’s no guarantee that Stumpy 2.0 will be ready for replanting by the end of the seawall project in 2026. If the stumplings survive to full-grown trees, horticulturists said that they could end up back at the tidal basin in two to three years.
