One city councillor wants to set the record straight about the issue of cherry trees in Victoria.
Last week, council approved a spending increase of $868,000 for its Urban Forest Master Plan in order to boost the city's tree population.
As part of the plan, some non-native cherry blossom trees suffering from drought and disease could be replaced with native and drought-resistant species.
Councillor Laurel Collins, who brought the motion forward, says reports that the cherry blossoms could be lost entirely, are simply untrue.
"In the past two years there have been 40 trees of the plum flowering and the cherry flowering variety that have been planted in our city and the parks director has assured me that they are planting and continuing to plant and replace cherry trees with cherry trees, where they are viable."
Collins says there are instances where cherry trees could be replaced in locations that are hit hard by drought, but they will continue to be planted in areas where they are known to thrive.
Collins says she and Councillor Jeremy Loveday will introduce a motion Thursday to clarify the city's policy on cherry blossoms and recognize their historic importance.