WASHINGTON (AP) — Stumpy lives on!

The stunted and gnarled cherry tree that turned an unlikely social media superstar was reduce down after the 2024 Nationwide Cherry Blossom Pageant, together with greater than 100 different bushes, to make approach for a large restore venture on the crumbling seawall defending the Tidal Basin.

However due to the efforts of the Nationwide Arboretum, little Stumplings — truly clones of the tree — have taken root and could possibly be returned to their father or mother’s dwelling within the subsequent couple of years.

Earlier this yr, staff collected a number of clippings and samples from Stumpy, transporting them to the Arboretum in a protecting cooler.

In a tree-mendous story of survival, these clippings have been replanted and nurtured to the purpose the place the Arboretum now has 5 small self-sustaining vegetation in its care. The method was sophisticated and delicate with no ensures that it could truly work, stated Piper Zettel, a horticulturist on the Arboretum.

“Rooting the cuttings of woody vegetation is just not a assured success. Timing and the situation of the reducing materials are most likely probably the most important parts, however many variables may have influenced the outcomes of this course of,” Zettel stated.

In horticultural phrases, the unique Stumpy is known as the “father or mother plant.” Nevertheless, the 5 younger seedlings beneath the Arboretum’s care are nearer to being Stumpy’s clones than its kids, since they’re genetically similar to the unique.

The rooted cuttings are nonetheless susceptible and would require years of affected person nurturing earlier than any of them are prepared for his or her public debut. The Nationwide Park Service, which oversees the Tidal Basin in entrance of the Jefferson Memorial, is focusing on spring 2026 for the completion of the seawall restore venture — anticipating a larger-than-usual flood of vacationers that summer time for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Nevertheless there’s no assure that Stumpy 2.0 will probably be prepared for replanting by that deadline.

“The brand new bushes have a protracted approach to go, however we’re doing all we are able to to make sure NPS receives robust, wholesome and vigorous bushes,” Zettel stated. “The method takes a very long time as bushes develop very slowly. We must be affected person.”

Stumpy turned a social media star in the course of the pandemic. Its legacy has spawned T-shirts, a calendar and a fanbase. Information that 2024 was Stumpy’s remaining spring prompted folks to depart flowers and bourbon and had one Reddit consumer threatening to chain themselves to the trunk to save lots of the tree.

On the Tidal Basin, the long-overdue seawall restore venture kicked off in earnest Thursday with the official launch of development. Quite than use a golden shovel or reduce a ribbon with outsized scissors, Nationwide Park Service officers selected to color one of many 90-foot tall steel piles gold. Observers applauded because the golden steel cylinder — one in every of about 700 that will probably be used — was inserted into the bottom by a large development crane.

“This has been a very long time coming,” stated Catherine Townsend, president of the Belief for the Nationwide Mall, which makes use of personal donations to assist the publicly funded NPS initiatives. “It’s laborious to see all these development fences and cranes, however it has to occur.”

The $133 million venture to restore the seawall has been desperately wanted for years. Along with customary deterioration, the precise water degree has risen by about 13 inches because the seawall was initially constructed within the Nineteen Forties. Consequently, the Tidal Basin waters have been overflowing the wall twice a day at excessive tide, blocking pedestrian pathways and soaking the cherry blossom tree roots with damaging brackish sea water.

“It was a tragic second for us to have to chop down so many cherry blossom bushes,” stated Nationwide Park Service Director Chuck Sams. “Stumpy is an actual image of resilience, merely for having survived in these circumstances.”

Whereas the Park Service is aiming to have all the things accomplished by spring 2026, the development work will inevitably influence the 2025 cherry blossom season subsequent spring.

“We simply ask that folks be affected person, as a result of on the opposite aspect of that is going to be improved amenities and an improved customer expertise,” Sams stated.