Roland M. Jefferson was the first Black botanist and plant explorer at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. His horticultural legacy lives on in cherry trees across America, particularly in those found at the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC. A DC native, Jefferson received his botany degree from Howard University in 1950 after serving in WWII. Jefferson joined the team of scientists at the National Arboretum in 1956. He extensively studied American crabapple varietals for over a decade before turning his attention to cherry trees.