True Cinnamon Tree

True Cinnamon Tree Care

Cinnamomum Verum

What is the plant

Cinnamomum verum is a small evergreen tree belonging to the family Lauraceae. This plant is native to Sri Lanka. You may know cinnamon as a versatile spice that goes well with both food and hot drinks. This spice is the dried bark of the tree. However, the true cinnamon tree can also please you with its appearance.

Although cinnamon is a tree, a properly cultivated plant looks like a shrub. The branches are cylindrical. The oval pointed leaves are located on short petioles. They have a leathery texture. The leaves are 3-7 inches (7-18 cm) long. The flowers are greenish in color and have an unpleasant smell. The fruits are small purple berries with a single seed.

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Humidity

High

Lighting

Full Sun

Temperature

24°C - 27°C

Hardiness zone

10 - 12

Difficulty

Medium

How to Care for the Plant

Water
Cinnamomum verum requires moderate watering. You may want to water your tree when the top 2 in (5 cm) of the soil are dry. In the hot season, you’ll have to increase the frequency and abundance of watering. To control the amount of moisture and keep the roots cool in the summer, put mulch around the root base.
Pruning
The plant does not need additional pruning. However, if the appearance of your cinnamon is important to you, do not worry. The tree tolerates shearing well and lends easily to crown formation.
Fertilizer
You should feed the plant weekly in May-June and August-September with slow-release mineral fertilizer. Using organic fertilizer or compost is also fine.

Disease diagnosis

Check your plant’s health

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Sunlight
You should keep the cinnamon in a well-lit area. Only new seedlings need shade and special protection from sunlight. Later, both young and adult plants prefer bright light and need protection only from direct rays on the sunniest days.
Soil
Cinnamomum verum needs well-drained soil that allows water to pass through easily. You can use a mixture of acidic soil, sphagnum, and perlite in equal proportions. Sandy loam works well too. Remember, the plant does not do well in conditions of high humidity, so you should exclude heavy soils and clay.
Propagation
True Cinnamon Tree propagates by cuttings or seeds. When choosing a branch to germinate, you must make sure it has not been processed. If you decide to germinate cinnamon from seeds, bury them deeper in the ground so the frost does not damage the root.

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Temperature
Because cinnamon is native to tropical countries, you need to keep the plant warm. The ideal temperature for seedlings is 68˚F (20˚C). For mature trees, it is 75˚F (24˚C).
Container
You can plant the cinnamon tree outdoors. After the first two years, you should prune the tree at the root. A year later, young sprigs will sprout around the hemp. You can plant it in small pots or use it to extract bark. A new tree will grow from the root.
Fun fact
In ancient times, cinnamon could serve as a gift to rulers. People highly valued this spice.