How to get sakura blossom trees in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Animal Crossing: New Horizons spans seasons. Running in real time, much of the gameplay varies based on the seasons. Items to craft, fish to hook, plants, and bugs to catch all change with the season. Some change within the season. For those in the Northern Hemisphere, the game released in early Spring. In the Southern Hemisphere, it’s Autumn.

Cherry-blossom trees, or sakura trees in Japan, are a seasonal delight. And they’re in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Getting them is pretty simple and beautiful. 

How to get cherry-blossom trees in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

The good news is you already have them. The bad news is seeing the beautiful pink petals is entirely dependent on the season. 

Every island comes with three tree types: cedar, hardwood, and fruit. For the purposes of this guide, we care only about the hardwood. Hardwood trees are the generic-looking trees that don’t produce fruit. They may seem like a nuisance in comparison to your pears, cherries, and apple trees, but don’t discount them. Not only do they provide a good amount of wood, but in the later spring months, the green leaves turn into pink blossoms that drift around the island.

Seasons are reversed between the hemispheres. Each season spans three months. For example, in the Northern Hemisphere, Spring is March, April, and May. In the Southern Hemisphere, Spring is September, October, and November. In the Northern Hemisphere, cherry-blossom season begins in April, the second Spring month. We’re not entirely sure, but it should follow the same pattern for the Southern Hemisphere and begin in October. When you start the game at the beginning of cherry-blossom season, Isabelle (or Tom Nook, depending on how far you are in the game) will announce it as part of the daily news.

If you’re looking forward to the pink blossoms, don’t give in to temptation and remove all those pesky, generic hardwood trees to save space. Set some aside in a park, or hoard them on your personal property to see their beauty in the coming months.