Cinnamomum aromaticum Seeds | Bark Cassia Cinnamon Bark
LATIN NAME: Cinnamomum aromaticum
COMMON NAME: Cassia
Plant Profile
Cinnamomum aromaticum, commonly known as Cassia, is a tall, evergreen tree in the laurel family. It grows steadily into dense, rounded crown, and it stands warm, humid climate well. It likes sun or light shade, and deep, fertile, well-drained soil. Bees and other pollinators visit the flowers freely through the season. Taken as a whole, it is a plant that repays a little attention many times over.
Science & Biotechnology
Cassia is the cinnamon of commerce and of most cinnamon research. Its bark oil is dominated by cinnamaldehyde, responsible for the antimicrobial and much-studied metabolic activity; trials of cassia in type 2 diabetes have produced mixed results on blood glucose, with meta-analyses finding at most modest benefit. The important safety distinction from Ceylon cinnamon (C. verum) is coumarin: cassia carries far higher levels, and regular high intake can exceed the tolerable daily coumarin intake, a hepatotoxicity concern that European food regulators take seriously. Culinary amounts remain a pleasure without a problem.
Research touching on Cinnamomum aromaticum ranges from the botany of the laurel family to practical horticulture, including seed handling, propagation and the selection of superior forms. Aromatic bark of cassia gives it a recognised place in research on spice trees of laurel family, and aromaticum species appears in studies of bark-oil plants and leaf chemistry. Raising it from seed today is a matter of ordinary good practice rather than specialist skill.
Uses & Benefits
Cassia works well in borders, containers and dedicated beds. In warm land, cassia quilts pantry with spicy, sweet bark. Aromatic inner bark serves kitchens and spice trade for generations, young leaves flavour dishes, and tree makes fine shade and plantation tree. It thrives in deep, fertile, well-drained ground. Thereafter it wants only the ordinary attentions any garden plant receives.
Cinnamon is a spice and a medicine chest: its bark oil and polyphenols are studied for post-meal blood-sugar support, and cassia bark, Rou Gui, is a major warming herb of Chinese medicine. The leaf oil supplies eugenol for dentistry and flavoring.
Growing from Seed
Cassia is one of those generous plants that come along well from seed. Use a fine, free-draining seed compost, scatter the seed evenly, cover it lightly and hold it just moist in good light. Once the seedlings have made true leaves, pot them on individually and plant out when they are sturdy and conditions are right.
Our Take
Its long record of traditional use, described above, gives the plant a story beyond ornament. Once established, Cassia largely looks after itself. Its wants are few — a sunny spot, soil that drains, and time to settle in.
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