Wild Cinnamon

Wild Cinnamon: A Fragrant Native Treasure for Warm Climate Gardens

If you’re looking for a native plant that brings both beauty and aromatic charm to your warm climate garden, wild cinnamon (Canella winterana) might just be the perfect addition. This evergreen beauty is more than just a pretty face – it’s a hardworking native that’s been quietly thriving in Florida’s landscapes for centuries.

What is Wild Cinnamon?

Wild cinnamon, botanically known as Canella winterana, is a perennial shrub that can grow into a small tree under the right conditions. Don’t let the name fool you – while it’s called wild cinnamon, it’s not related to the spice you sprinkle on your morning latte. This native beauty gets its name from its aromatic bark, which has a spicy, cinnamon-like fragrance when crushed.

You might also see this plant listed under its synonyms Canella alba or Laurus winterana in older gardening references, but Canella winterana is the accepted botanical name today.

Where Does Wild Cinnamon Call Home?

Wild cinnamon is a true native of the southeastern United States, specifically calling Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands home. In Florida, you’ll find it naturally growing in coastal hammocks and tropical hardwood forests, where it’s perfectly adapted to the warm, humid conditions.

What Does Wild Cinnamon Look Like?

This attractive plant is a real showstopper with its glossy, medium-textured green foliage that stays beautiful year-round. While wild cinnamon typically grows as a multi-stemmed shrub reaching 13-16 feet in height, it can stretch up to 33 feet at maturity under ideal conditions, and some specimens can even reach 49 feet after 20 years of growth.

The real magic happens when this plant blooms and fruits:

• Flowers: Small red blooms appear in summer, though they’re not particularly showy
• Fruit: Bright red berries that are quite conspicuous and add year-round color
• Bark: Aromatic bark that releases a spicy fragrance when crushed

Why Grow Wild Cinnamon in Your Garden?

There are plenty of reasons to fall in love with wild cinnamon:

• Native Heritage: As a true Florida native, it supports local ecosystems and requires minimal intervention once established
• Year-Round Interest: Evergreen foliage means your landscape stays green all year, while the red berries provide seasonal pops of color
• Aromatic Appeal: The fragrant bark adds a sensory dimension to your garden
• Low Maintenance: Once established, it’s quite drought tolerant and doesn’t require constant fussing
• Versatile Size: Can be maintained as a large shrub or allowed to grow into a small tree

Perfect Garden Settings for Wild Cinnamon

Wild cinnamon shines in several landscape settings:

• Coastal gardens: Its natural salt tolerance makes it perfect for seaside landscapes
• Tropical and subtropical designs: Fits beautifully into lush, tropical-themed gardens
• Native plant gardens: An excellent choice for Florida native landscape designs
• Specimen planting: Makes an attractive focal point when given room to grow
• Privacy screening: Can be used as a natural hedge or screen (though it has low hedge tolerance)

Growing Conditions: What Wild Cinnamon Needs to Thrive

Wild cinnamon is surprisingly adaptable, but like any plant, it has its preferences:

Climate Requirements:

• USDA Hardiness Zones 10b-11 (needs 365+ frost-free days)
• Minimum temperature tolerance: 40°F
• Spring is its active growing season

Soil Preferences:

• Adapts well to both coarse and fine-textured soils
• Medium fertility requirements
• Medium tolerance for alkaline conditions
• Needs good drainage (minimum 36-inch root depth)
• Medium salt tolerance for coastal planting

Light and Water:

• Full sun to partial shade
• Drought tolerant once established
• No special cold stratification needed for seeds

Planting and Care Tips

Getting wild cinnamon established in your garden is refreshingly straightforward:

Planting:

• Plant density: 320-640 plants per acre for mass plantings
• Available as container plants or bare root specimens
• Best planted during warm months when growth is active

Propagation:

• Can be grown from seed (about 9,979 seeds per pound)
• Seeds are produced year-round and persist on the plant
• Container propagation is routinely available
• Unfortunately, cuttings don’t root well, so stick with seeds or purchased plants

Ongoing Care:

• Water regularly during establishment, then reduce as the plant becomes drought tolerant
• Light pruning to maintain desired size and shape
• No special fertilization needs beyond medium fertility soil
• Watch for the summer bloom period and enjoy the year-round berry display

A Few Things to Keep in Mind

While wild cinnamon is generally easy-going, there are a few considerations:

• It’s not fire-resistant, so avoid planting in high fire-risk areas
• The plant doesn’t resprout after cutting, so be thoughtful about pruning
• It’s strictly a warm-climate plant – those cold snaps can be problematic
• Growth rate is moderate, so patience is key if you’re looking for quick results

The Bottom Line

Wild cinnamon is a wonderful choice for gardeners in USDA zones 10b-11 who want to incorporate beautiful, aromatic native plants into their landscapes. Its combination of evergreen foliage, colorful berries, fragrant bark, and relatively low maintenance requirements make it a smart addition to coastal, tropical, and native plant gardens.

While it may not be the flashiest plant in your garden, wild cinnamon offers that steady, reliable beauty that forms the backbone of great landscape design. Plus, by choosing this native species, you’re supporting local ecosystems and creating habitat for wildlife – even if we don’t have specific data on which creatures benefit most from this plant.

If you live in wild cinnamon’s native range and have been looking for an aromatic, attractive, and authentically Floridian addition to your garden, this fragrant beauty deserves serious consideration.