Cinnamomum Chekiangensis seed

LATIN NAME: CINNAMOMUM CHEKIANGENSE

COMMON NAME: Zhejiang Cinnamon

The Zhejiang cinnamon perfumes the glossy, evergreen leaves with the sweet, spicy scent when they are crushed, the neat, oval leaves along the smooth-barked branches, and the whole tree carrying the quiet, handsome look of the true cinnamons. The foliage stays deep green through the year, the bark keeps the smooth, grey tone, and the tree grows into the neat, rounded crown of the warm-climate woodland. The small, pale flowers are followed by the small, dark fruits that the birds take. It likes the sun, the shelter, and the deep, rich, well-drained soil.

Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology

The cinnamon trees have kept the spice trade and the chemistry labs busy for the ages, and the Zhejiang cinnamon appears in the studies of the laurel family and the essential oils. The research covers the aromatic compounds in the bark and the leaves, along with the performance of the tree in the plantations, while the chemists keep the oils under the microscope. The foresters value the timber, and the collectors of the fine evergreen broadleaf trees keep the species in their catalogues.

Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications

In the warm garden, the Zhejiang cinnamon fills the corner with the quiet fragrance. The crushed leaves and the bark carry the aromatic oils that have served the kitchens and the traditional remedies for the ages, and the tree gives the evergreen structure and the shade through the year. The birds shelter in the branches and take the small fruits, and the timber serves the fine, local uses. A useful, scented tree of the warm ground.

The Zhejiang cinnamon seeds germinate in a moist, gritty compost kept warm and shaded. The seedlings are slow but sure, and they grow on with the glossy, scented leaves. Keep them in the sheltered spot through the first year or two, and give them the deep, rich, moist ground and the dappled light. They transplant well in the mild, humid climate, and the young trees soon carry the neat, evergreen crown. The spicy scent comes from the first crushed leaf.

To grow the Zhejiang cinnamon from seed, sow the small, round seeds singly into the tray of moist, gritty compost, then cover them lightly, keep the tray in the bright, shaded spot and water gently. The seedlings thread up within a few weeks, and they grow on steadily. Keep the young trees in the warm, sheltered corner, and the scented crown will perfume the air over the years.