Cinnamomum kotoense seed

LATIN NAME: CINNAMOMUM KOTOENSE

COMMON NAME: Koto Cinnamon

The Koto cinnamon scents the dense, rounded crown with the large, glossy, deep-green leaves and the small, cream flowers that open in the spring, the small, dark fruits following in the warm months. The crushed leaves carry the warm, spicy scent, and the whole tree gives off the clean, aromatic tone. The tree grows into the handsome, compact evergreen, and it stands the warm, sheltered garden well. It likes the part shade, and the rich, moist, well-drained soil.

Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology

In the laurel family, the cinnamon trees hold a long, aromatic record in the spice research, and the Koto species appears in the studies of the leaf oils and the rare warm-garden trees. The chemists value the aromatic compounds in the leaves, the horticulturists note the glossy evergreen habit, and the collectors of the rare cinnamon trees keep the species in their catalogues. The seed biology fills out the picture, and the compact growth suits the sheltered garden.

Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications

In the warm, sheltered garden, the Koto cinnamon scents the air with every leaf. The glossy leaves and the spicy scent give the dense, leafy shade, the bark and the leaves carry the cinnamon-like warmth, and the aromatic wood serves the small carvings. It grows well in the rich, moist, sheltered ground. Warm, aromatic and evergreen.

The Koto cinnamon seeds germinate in a moist, crumbly mix kept warm and shaded. The seedlings break through within a few weeks, and they grow on steadily with the glossy leaves. Plant them out into the rich, moist, sheltered ground once they are big enough, and give them the part shade. The young trees keep the compact habit, and the aromatic leaves scent the garden from the start.

To grow the Koto cinnamon from seed, press the seeds onto the surface of the moist, crumbly mix, then cover them lightly, keep the tray in the warm, shaded spot and mist gently. The seedlings emerge within a few weeks, and they grow on steadily. Settle the young trees in the rich, moist, sheltered ground, and the aromatic leaves will scent the garden over the years.