Overview

Embark on a rewarding gardening journey with this exquisite ceylon cinnamon live plant, scientifically known as Cinnamomum zeylanicum. This starter tree offers horticultural enthusiasts and culinary adventurers the unique opportunity to cultivate their own source of authentic cinnamon. Originating from Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), this plant is revered globally for producing the ‘true cinnamon’ spice, distinct from the more common Cassia varieties. Unlike Cassia, Cinnamomum zeylanicum tree yields a thin, yellowish-brown bark with a delicate and stronger aroma, making it highly prized for its superior quality and flavor. This young plant arrives in a 2.5” square pot, ready to be nurtured into a flourishing tree that can provide fresh leaves for herbal teas and aromatic bark for cooking and baking. Growing your own real cinnamon tree is a fascinating process that connects you directly to the source of this beloved spice, allowing you to appreciate its natural beauty and culinary versatility.

The ceylon cinnamon live plant is not just a source of spice; it’s also a beautiful evergreen addition to your garden or a striking potted specimen in warmer climates. Its glossy foliage and potential for pale yellow blooms add an ornamental touch. This particular offering is a healthy starter plant, organically grown, providing a robust foundation for your future cinnamon harvest. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or new to growing tropical plants, this cinnamon tree promises a unique and fragrant experience. You’ll enjoy the satisfaction of harvesting your own cinnamon, knowing it’s fresh, organic, and cultivated with care.

Key Benefits

Investing in a ceylon cinnamon live plant brings a multitude of benefits, from culinary delights to aesthetic appeal. This remarkable plant offers both practical uses and ornamental value for your home or garden.

• Authentic Spice Source: Cultivate your own ‘true cinnamon’ (Cinnamomum zeylanicum), distinguished by its delicate flavor and superior aroma compared to common Cassia. This allows for fresh, high-quality spice directly from your garden.
• Culinary Versatility: The leaves can be used fresh to flavor dishes, porridges, and herbal teas, while the bark, once mature, provides the renowned cinnamon spice for baking and cooking. This plant helps you to grow cinnamon at home for diverse culinary applications.
• Ornamental Value: As an evergreen tree with attractive foliage and pale yellow blooms, the Cinnamomum zeylanicum tree adds a tropical and exotic touch to your landscape or indoor plant collection.
• Aromatic Experience: Both the leaves and bark release a delightful, warm, and inviting fragrance, enriching your home or garden environment with its natural perfume.
• Herbal Tea Ingredient: Cinnamon leaves are rich in phytonutrients and can be used to make flavorful and aromatic herbal teas, offering a soothing and beneficial beverage.
• Organic Cultivation: Grown organically, this ceylon cinnamon live plant ensures you’re producing natural, chemical-free spice and leaves for your consumption.
• Educational Experience: Growing a cinnamon tree provides a unique educational opportunity to learn about tropical agriculture and the origins of common spices.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your ceylon cinnamon live plant requires attention to its specific needs to ensure healthy growth and a bountiful harvest. These tropical trees thrive in warm, humid environments, mimicking their native habitat. When your cinnamomum zeylanicum tree arrives, allow it a week or two to adjust to its new surroundings before transplanting or fertilizing. It is crucial to gradually increase its exposure to sunlight and outdoor conditions if you plan to move it outside.

Sunlight requirements: The ceylon cinnamon live plant prefers a location with sun to partial shade. In tropical climates, full sun is often tolerated, but in regions with intense afternoon sun, some afternoon shade can prevent leaf scorch. When young, protect it from direct, harsh sunlight, preferring bright, indirect light. As it matures, it can handle more sun. For indoor growing, place it near a bright window where it receives several hours of indirect light daily. Watering schedule: Keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged. Water thoroughly when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Ensure good drainage to prevent root rot. During cooler months, reduce watering frequency. Soil type and drainage: This plant thrives in well-draining, rich, organic soil. A good quality potting mix amended with compost or perlite will provide the necessary nutrients and drainage. The USDA hardiness zone for this plant is 9b, meaning it can tolerate temperatures down to 25°F (-3.8°C), but it performs best in warmer conditions.

Fertilization: Feed your ceylon cinnamon live plant with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer during the growing season (spring and summer). Follow the product instructions for application rates. Avoid over-fertilizing, which can harm the plant. Temperature range: Ideal temperatures for growth are between 70-80°F (21-27°C). Protect your plant from temperatures below 60°F (15°C), as prolonged exposure to cold can cause damage. If growing outdoors in a cooler zone, consider bringing it indoors during winter. Common problems: Watch out for common pests like spider mites and mealybugs, especially in dry indoor environments. Treat with organic insecticidal soap if necessary. Ensure good air circulation to prevent fungal issues. Yellowing leaves can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiency. Proper cinnamon plant care will lead to a thriving specimen.

Size & Details

This offering is for one ceylon cinnamon live plant, a vigorous starter tree of Cinnamomum zeylanicum. Each plant measures approximately 4-7 inches tall, with this measurement excluding the height of the pot. It is shipped securely in a 2.5-inch square pot, providing a healthy root system for successful establishment in your garden or larger container. The mature size of a cinnamomum zeylanicum tree can reach 20-30 feet (6-9 meters) in its ideal growing conditions, though it can be maintained at a smaller size with regular pruning, especially when grown in containers. This allows you to grow cinnamon at home even in limited spaces.

The plant features evergreen foliage, maintaining its lush green leaves throughout the year. While the primary goal for many is to harvest the spice from its bark, the journey to maturity is a rewarding one. The plant will develop its characteristic pale yellow blooms, adding to its appeal. Grown organically, this starter plant is ready to be transplanted into a larger pot or directly into the ground in suitable climates. Expect a moderate growth rate, with consistent care leading to a robust and productive real cinnamon tree over time. The careful packaging ensures your plant arrives in good condition, ready to flourish in its new environment.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get and what size pot does it come in? A: This ceylon cinnamon live plant is a starter tree, typically 4-7 inches tall (excluding the pot height). It is shipped in a 2.5-inch square pot. In ideal conditions, a mature Cinnamomum zeylanicum tree can reach 20-30 feet, but it can be kept smaller with pruning in containers.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? How much sunlight does it need? A: While tropical, this cinnamomum zeylanicum tree can be grown both indoors and outdoors in appropriate climates (USDA Zone 9b and warmer). It prefers sun to partial shade. Indoors, place it in a bright spot with indirect light. Outdoors, protect young plants from intense afternoon sun.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? Is it good for beginners? A: This ceylon cinnamon live plant requires consistent care, especially regarding watering, light, and temperature. It can be a good plant for beginners who are willing to learn its specific tropical needs, making cinnamon plant care a rewarding experience.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? Is it shipped in soil? A: Your plant will arrive as a live, potted starter plant in its original 2.5-inch square pot with soil, ensuring its roots are protected during transit. It’s carefully packaged to minimize stress during shipping.
• Q: Can I use the leaves and bark for cooking? A: Yes, both the leaves and bark of the real cinnamon tree are used. The leaves are excellent for herbal teas and flavoring dishes, while the bark, once mature and harvested, provides the authentic cinnamon spice.
• Q: How long until it blooms or produces spice? A: The plant will develop pale yellow blooms as it matures, which can take a few years. Harvesting bark for spice typically begins when the tree is several years old and has developed sufficiently thick branches. The leaves, however, can be used much sooner.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? What’s the minimum temperature? A: This ceylon cinnamon live plant is hardy to USDA Zone 9b, tolerating temperatures down to about 25°F (-3.8°C). If you live in a colder zone, it’s best to grow it in a container and bring it indoors during winter to protect it from frost.