How to Grow Cinnamon Herbs & Spices
Cinnamon bark, an herb, is widely used as a spice. Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum, or C. zeylanicum) is a tropical evergreen tree native to Sri Lanka. Similar spices, also called "cinnamon," are reaped from related species, like Cassia and Cinnamomum burmannii. Cinnamon is a member of the laurel family. The tropical evergreen tree that produces cinnamon spice requires a low altitude and a hot, humid, tropical climate that is difficult to replicate indoors or in a hot house. Mature cinnamon is a medium-sized tree, reaching heights of 20 to 40 feet, with attractive foliage, commonly used in ornamental gardens.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Challenging
Instructions
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Verify that cinnamon is recommended for the USDA zone that matches your geographic location. Cinnamon, a tropical evergreen laurel tree, grows in humid, hot climates. It is only suited to USDA zones 9b to 11. It does not adapt to other climates.
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Plant seeds 1/2 inch deep, immediately after the last frost. Soil should have good drainage.
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Cinnamon seedlings require warm temperatures, preferring partial shade and average water. Keep the seedlings slightly moist, depending on humidity levels and soil saturation. Fertilize monthly with an organic, potassium-rich fertilizer.
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As the cinnamon seedlings mature, exposure to direct sunlight can be increased. The tree must grow for two years before it produces the cinnamon bark to harvest for use as a spice.
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Cut the young tree back twice a year to encourage sucker shoots to develop from the roots. The sucker shoots are the part of the plant that provides the bark used as a spice. The shoots are stripped of bark, from which the outer woody section is removed and the thin inner bark dried. These "quills" curl into dry rolls, which is cinnamon spice.
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Tips & Warnings
Cinnamon and cassia are both sources of cinnamon spice, and are both members of the laurel tree family. There are over 250 species of cinnamon. Cassia produces cinnamon spice that is a bit sweeter than true cinnamon.
