Jackson Winfrey, a high school senior from Kansas City, was on a school trip to D.C. during our unusually warm February when he noticed a tree at the Tidal Basin a bit different from the others. In fact, “the most unique one” out of all the cherry blossoms, he says.

“I was like, ‘Poor tree,’ and immediately thought of the joke about my love life—because I haven’t ever been in a relationship,” Winfrey says.

The “joke” he’s referring to is a Reddit thread he started in late February: “This tree a little aways from Jefferson memorial is as dead as my love life, but I love it!” The post quickly garnered more than 500 upvotes and responses from people supportive of D.C. horticulture, as well as Winfrey’s romantic prospects.

“To my surprise many said it was still alive,” Winfrey says.

One Reddit user offered supportive words: “May you bloom like this tree in the next few months.”

Winfrey, an aspiring government teacher, was on the trip with his own government teacher at Oak Park High School—who’s originally from Arlington and takes his students to the Tidal Basin most years when the trees bloom.

Stumpy, as the tree has been affectionately named online, has been around for years, according to other Reddit users. Some have become quite attached to the little nub, posting updates as he continues to blossom like the others. Winfey, though, has posted the most recent update:

Same tree a week later! Blooms have opened up more and are white now.
byu/BeetleJuice3xs inwashingtondc

This most recent post led some users to ask about Stumpy’s wellbeing. Why is his growth so stunted, after all? Some blame vandalism, or suggest that lightning struck the tree once upon a time. But a number of those more familiar with the Tidal Basin point to the tides.

“Trees need aerated soil and a large root network to support regular growth, and this poor guy seems like he’s in the wrong place to thrive,” a home gardener writes to DCist (anonymously, because she “could be wrong!”) “Most trees (save for those adapted to water and saturated soil), need well-drained soil so that their roots do not rot. This tree seems very unhealthy, and seeing the water coming so close to the trunk (probably regularly due to tides) has probably stunted its growth.”

Matthew Morrison, a National Park Service botanist, helped put the matter to rest in an email to DCist:

“Stumpy has suffered from urban related challenges that have rendered its overhead network of branches compromised and stressed … As public safety is the paramount mission of the National Park Service, the dangerous dead portions have been removed by our in-house arborist team. With there being enough feeder roots present, along with the tree’s natural ability to transport cells, water, and nutrients immediately inside the layer of bark, the tree can sustain life indefinitely. When Stump finally gives up the ghost it will be replaced by a nursery stock cherry tree.”

Peak bloom for the blossoms is here, and despite warnings from District and NPS officials, and Metro closures, there are still clusters of people around the Tidal Basin. (Practice social distancing by watching the trees from home with the BloomCam.)

Perhaps we can learn from Stumpy during the difficult days ahead. As one Reddit user commented: “You know what that old tree is doing? It’s best.”

As for our high school pal Jackson Winfrey? He says he’s since met a girl, and that his love life is not “dead” as he once purported. Are things going well so far? “Umm idk yet hopefully lol 😂” he writes over instant messages. “Patience is key.”

This story has been updated with information from the NPS and the peak bloom announcement.