Imagine having a real cinnamon tree! Our lovely plants are natives of exotic Sri Lanka, where they stand around in the verdant, sultry, tropical jungles taking showers in their beloved monsoon rains. They are related to Laurels (like bay leaf) and Magnolias. A medium sized tree planted in warmer yards in the US, it makes a splendid houseplant too. Full and orderly, even growth reminds us of a Ficus in habit. Straight and strong greyish trunks support green stems reaching out holding emerald green, shiny, oval leaves with pointy tips. Each leaf has 3 principal, strong, pale veins striping the leaf from petiole to tip. Leaves are paired, two this way, then two that way. The overall look is a nice, green bush, a change from all those other leafy plants you have; put it where you would put a larger-leaf Ficus. Our standard would look good anywhere you want the look of a small tree. The fun part is, the bark and leaves have cinnamon oil in them. The cinnamon spice comes from the inner bark, peel it with your machete (we know you have one) in strips which, cut into short lengths, will curl into those cinnamon sticks we know and love. Natives used the oils for digestive and respiratory ailments. Flowers are pale yellow clusters of buds that don't really open but ripen into little, shiny, oval purple fruits; dried they are usable for cinnamony spice too. It even has its own cinnamon butterfly, a beautiful black and white, zebra striped swallowtail type, so happy with its own tree.
- Air Purifying
Quick Care Guide:
- Water - Medium (3): Water plant when dry. Plant does not like soil to always be moist, but doesn't like to stay dry once becomes dry. Water as soon as soil is dry.
- Light - Med/High (4): Needs more light than most, but direct light not necessary. Can handle morning and afternoon sun directly on leaves.
- Difficulty - Low/Med (2): A little less finicky than most. Doesn't require much attention at all.