Canella winterana aka Wild Cinnamon

Canella winterana belongs to the Canellaceae family. Its names include wild cinnamon, white cinnamon, and Bahama whitewood. It grows wild in Florida, the Caribbean, and southeastern Mexico. Its native range also reaches northwestern Venezuela. It grows in coastal thickets and hammocks near sea level. These sites often have limestone or other lime-rich soils.

This evergreen grows as a shrub or small tree. Growth is very slow, and the crown is dense. It can reach about 49 feet [15 metres] tall. This is a reported maximum, not a stated garden range. Its short trunk measures about 0.4–0.7 feet [0.12–0.20 metres] across. All parts of the plant have a scent. The leaves have a sharp, peppery taste when used as flavouring.

Bees pollinate the flowers, which contain both male and female organs. These organs become mature at different times within each flower. Most flowers on one plant share the same stage. The plant therefore functions as male or female at a given time. The source lists it as not self-fertile. Dried flowers release a musky scent when soaked in warm water. The plant bears many bright red berries. These fruits are a key reason people grow it for display.

Wild cinnamon grows in tropical and subtropical climates. Cultivation accounts place it most often in drier areas. Kew also records it within the wet tropical biome. It needs soil that lets excess water drain away. Growers can raise new plants from seed. Its dense crown and bright fruit give it garden value. People also gather wild plants for food flavouring and medicine.

The inner bark smells of cinnamon and cloves. People use it in place of cinnamon or as another spice. Its taste is bitter and strong, rather than sweet. The leaves also serve as a food flavouring. Traditional medicine uses the bark as a stomach remedy and tonic. Modern herbal practice makes little use of it. Its hard, heavy wood has served for posts and poles. Other recorded uses include beams and ploughs. The heartwood is dark, while the sapwood is olive brown. Despite its food uses, the plant has a safety caveat. Feeding trials found that leaves and stems harmed poultry. This finding does not establish safety for other animals.