Cinnamon
Cinnamomum verum
Botanical family: Lauraceae
A tree of tropical forests: Cinnamomum verum ('true cinnamon' of Ceylon/Sri Lanka) and Cinnamomum cassia (China, Indonesia). The spice is the dried inner bark, warming, traditionally used as a digestive and reputed antimicrobial.
Sun to partial shade
Rich, drained, moist
Regular: a tree of warm, wet climates, in soil kept moist and well-drained
Frost-tender (tropical tree)
Frost-tender in your zone
Role in permaculture
A tropical tree whose dried inner bark gives the spice. Not cultivable outdoors in a temperate climate; a reference entry for the spice used in the site's recipes and infusions.
Companions
No companion planting is documented for this plant: no recommended neighbour, no neighbour to avoid.
Seasons & availability
A spice (dried bark) available all year round; the tree is tropical.
Available: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.
Guidance for the oceanic / temperate climate; it may vary with your region, altitude, exposure and growing method.
Sources
- Plants For A Future, « Cinnamomum verum » (pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Cinnamomum+verum)
- Missouri Botanical Garden, « Cinnamomum verum » (plantfinder.mobot.org/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=281655)
Nutritional & medicinal properties
For educational purposes. Not a substitute for medical advice. Effects depend on the form, the dose and personal context.
Precautions & contraindications
Cassia cinnamon is rich in coumarin, undesirable at high dose and over a prolonged period (liver): prefer Ceylon cinnamon (verum) for regular use. Caution at a medicinal dose during pregnancy.
In the kitchen & the apothecary
Where to find cinnamon in preparations: recipes and traditional herbal teas.
Species & varieties
The best-known species and varieties in France.
Species
Key takeaways
- • Prefers sun to partial shade exposure.
- • Ideal soil: rich, drained, moist.