Cinnamon Plant

Grow Real Cinnamon at Home

Yes, this is the actual plant that produces the cinnamon spice you love. Cinnamomum verum grows beautifully as an indoor tree, filling your space with glossy leaves and a subtle warm fragrance whenever you brush past it.

More Than a Spice Rack Plant

While you probably won't harvest enough bark for your morning oatmeal, the Cinnamon Plant is a gorgeous houseplant in its own right. New leaves emerge in stunning shades of pink and bronze before maturing to deep, glossy green.

Aromatic Leaves

Gently rub a leaf between your fingers and you'll be rewarded with that unmistakable warm, spicy cinnamon scent. It's one of the few houseplants that engages your sense of smell as much as your eyes.

Tropical Heritage

Native to Sri Lanka, the Cinnamon Plant has been treasured since ancient times, and historical accounts describe cinnamon as a costly luxury. Today, it makes a unique and aromatic indoor companion.

Water when the top inch of soil feels dry — about once a week in warm months, every 10-14 days in winter. Cinnamon plants like consistent moisture but not soggy roots. Use room-temperature water and ensure thorough drainage each time.

Bright indirect light with some morning sun is ideal. An east or south-facing window with a sheer curtain works perfectly. Can tolerate a few hours of direct morning sun. Low light slows growth and reduces the aromatic oil production in leaves.

Use a rich, well-draining potting mix. Combine standard potting soil with perlite and compost in a 2:1:1 ratio. Slightly acidic soil is preferred. Good drainage is essential as the roots are prone to rot in waterlogged conditions.

Feed every 2-3 weeks during spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer at half strength. Reduce to monthly in fall and stop in winter. A slow-release granular fertilizer applied in spring also works well.

Propagate from semi-hardwood stem cuttings taken in summer. Dip in rooting hormone and plant in moist perlite or vermiculite. Cover with a humidity dome. Rooting takes 8-12 weeks. Seeds are also viable but very slow to germinate.

Repot every 2-3 years in spring, moving up one pot size. Cinnamon plants can become top-heavy, so choose a sturdy pot. Refresh the soil to replenish nutrients and improve drainage around the roots.

Brown leaf tips: Low humidity — increase with misting or a pebble tray.
Dropping leaves: Cold drafts or sudden temperature changes.
Leggy growth: Insufficient light — prune and move to a brighter spot.
Pale leaves: Needs more nutrients — resume fertilizing schedule.