Cinnamomum japonicum Seeds | Japanese Cinnamon
LATIN NAME: Cinnamomum japonicum
COMMON NAME: Japanese Cinnamon
Plant Profile
A distinctive member of its genus, Japanese Cinnamon (Cinnamomum japonicum) is an evergreen tree. Plant steadily develops a rounded crown, often reaching 5-10 metres. Full sun suits it best, with deep, fertile ground. Mature plants top out at about 5-10 metres. When it flowers, local bees and other insects make good use of it. Not many plants ask so little and repay so much.
Science & Biotechnology
Research touching on Cinnamomum japonicum ranges from the botany of the Cinnamomum group to practical horticulture, including seed handling, propagation and the selection of superior forms. The Japanese cinnamon has a real and distinguished place in the research. Breeders and collectors still work with it, so well-kept seed remains available.
Uses & Benefits
In the garden, Japanese Cinnamon earns its place in borders, containers and mixed plantings, and it also rewards growers who raise plants for cutting, drying or kitchen use. Ecologically, the Japanese cinnamon is a generous tree of the woodland. Its glossy, evergreen foliage gives a year-round cover and a shelter to birds, and its small fruits feed birds and wildlife, while it is a valued presence in parks and woodlands of mild regions. Dense, glossy canopy gives a sheltered, cool corner of garden in heat of summer, and fallen leaves make a soft, fragrant mulch on ground beneath. It establishes readily and then requires nothing out of the ordinary.
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
Sow fresh seed of Japanese Cinnamon under ordinary good conditions. Sow evenly over the surface and cover lightly into a loose, well-drained seed compost, water in gently, and keep the sowing in full sun with steady moisture. Transplant the sturdiest seedlings to their permanent spots and let them develop without disturbance.
Our Take
Once established, Japanese Cinnamon largely looks after itself. Japanese Cinnamon is the kind of plant that rewards a permanent spot. It tolerates the sort of small mistakes every beginner makes.
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