Trending
The aroma of Christmas cookies and pies baking; the sweet rolls on Christmas morning; the speckled, spiked eggnog ... all have one very popular spice in common, cinnamon.
There are two kinds of cinnamon typically found in our culinary repertoire, Ceylon cinnamon and Cassia cinnamon. Ceylon cinnamon, known as "true cinnamon," is a product of the Cinnamomum verum tree found in Sri Lanka and southern India. It has a delicate, sweet flavor and is more difficult to find than the Cassia cinnamon, the most common cinnamon found in local markets. Cassia cinnamon originated in China, but is now grown in several Asian countries.
Ceylon cinnamon, C. zeylanicum, is an evergreen tree reaching 50 feet tall. Its leaves first appear pinkish in color turning dark green as it matures. Its star-shaped flower clusters develop into dark purple fruit with the scent of cinnamon.
The Cassia cinnamon, Cinnamomum spp., grows 60 feet tall with yellow-green leaves and small inconspicuous white to yellow flowers.
Both trees will grow in Zones 9 to 11 and prefer at least six hours of sun with afternoon shade. They require well-drained, acidic soil and consistent watering, but do not like wet feet. Although they can grow in our climate zone, they favor a more consistently warm, humid, tropical climate with an average temperature of 80º. Trees will need protection if temperatures drop below 40º. These trees may also become susceptible to mealybugs, leafminers and fungal diseases when conditions are too wet or shady.
Wait two years after planting before harvesting the inner bark from a few branches of the Ceylon or Cassia cinnamon tree and harvest every two years after that. Strip away the outer bark until you reach the yellow-orange layer of inner bark. Carefully peel this layer of bark and let dry for one week. When the bark begins to curl, it is ready to store as is or grind for use. Given the slow-growing and temperamental nature of these trees, you may want to purchase your cinnamon at a high-quality spice store and save your precious real estate for the native and endangered, wild cinnamon bark tree instead.
Although not edible, the Canella winterana or wild cinnamon bark tree, as it is commonly known, is a showy, small, evergreen tree growing 15 to 45 feet tall. It is a beautiful accent tree with dark green, shiny leaves and tiny, red to purple, fragrant flower clusters which mature into red berries. The flowers and fruit emerge in the spring, but are known to persist throughout the year attracting birds and butterflies with its lovely cinnamon fragrance.
The wild cinnamon bark tree is a non-invasive, long-lived perennial, requiring little or no pruning with a tall and narrow growth habit. Its dense leaves provide shade and cooler temperatures below its canopy. It is salt and drought tolerant and pest resistant. Plant this tree in full sun to partial shade in well-draining soil. Unlike the Ceylon and Cassia cinnamon trees, the wild cinnamon bark tree favors alkaline soil, the typical soil of Southwest Florida, adding to its low maintenance reputation.
With many of the wonderful properties of the wild cinnamon bark tree, it is important to remember its one downside: its outer bark is toxic and should not be ingested.
Instead, choose good quality Ceylon or Cassia cinnamon for your delicious holiday treats and enjoy them while picnicking under the canopy of your aromatic wild cinnamon bark tree.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Deborah Haggett is a Lee County Master Gardener Volunteer and a member of the Garden Club of Cape Coral. Visit us at www.gardenclubofcapecoral.com
References
Firk, A. (2017, October 29). Canella winterana (Cinnamon bark). FloridaForaging.Com. Retrieved December 15, 2021, from https://www.floridaforaging.com/plant/canella-winterana
Gilman, E. F. (2020, January 24). Canella winterana, Wild Cinnamon. UF/IFAS Extension. Retrieved December 15, 2021, from https://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/Pages/canwin/canwin.shtml
Grant, A. (2021, October 14). Ceylon Cinnamon Care: How to Grow A True Cinnamon Tree. Www.Gardening-knowhow.Com. Retrieved December 15, 2021, from https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/ceylon-cinnamon/ceylon-cinnamon-care.htm
Koeser, A. K., Friedman, M. H., Hasing, G., Finley, H., & Schelb, J. (2019, April 16). Canella winterana Cinnamon Bark. UF/IFAS Extension. Retrieved December 15, 2021, from https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FP101
McIntosh, J. (2021, October 22). How to Grow Cinnamon. TheSpruce.Com. Retrieved December 15, 2021, from https://www.thespruce.com/cinnamon-plant-care-and-growing-guide-4690725