One of the oldest cultivated fruit trees, the cherry tree is found in nearly every temperate part of the world, even though they were only found naturally in Eastern Europe and Asia. The first cherry tree was thought to be cultivated around 300 BC.
Treasured in the Mediterranean, the cherry fruit was eaten or used in sauces for their sweetness or tartness. In both Japan and China the cherry blossom has important meanings. A red, ripe cherry can be taken as an erotic symbol.
For a tattoo an unpicked cherry can stand for chastity, or purity, but once picked it means a loss of innocence.
