Cinnamon (Melia azedarach L.)

Traveling to Central Asia, we find a whole tree of paradise that has become one of the most frequent in parks and gardens of the Mediterranean basin. And it is that it provides a large amount of shade and serves to mark the median of the roads and different parking areas. Its about cinnamon. It is also known as the Bohemian olive tree and its scientific name is Melia sourach L.

Do you want to know what are the main characteristics of this tree and how to grow it to beautify your garden? Keep reading and don't miss it.

Key features

It is a tree that belongs to the Elaeagnaceae family. In this family are rose bushes and olive trees (hence its common name of Bohemian olive tree). It is a tree capable of growing between 10 and 25 meters in height so it can provide us with a large amount of shade and green spaces.

It prefers saline soils, so its area of ​​distribution extends to coastal areas. It is there where they form groups of several specimens that are usually apparent. Its flowering begins in early spring when temperatures begin to be somewhat higher. They are white and yellow and the fruit comes out of them. This fruit contains the seeds with which this tree manages to spread and spread to other lands.

So that insects can easily pollinate it, attracts them with an aroma that they give off in the flowering season quite intoxicating. Thanks to them they can reproduce and expand better.

Cinnamon and its cultivation

The most important value for which cinnamon is grown in parks and gardens is to enjoy its shade and the freshness it provides on the hottest days. It is the perfect tree to prepare a delicious picnic and go with your family or friends to spend a great day. To enjoy the shade and the flowers of the cinnamon we must take into account some things.

The first important thing when sowing it is its location. You need a sunny area that helps the tree resist low temperatures and winter frosts. If the temperatures in your area are too cold frequently, this tree will not survive. Because it supports any type of soil, it is not necessary to prepare the soil. You just have to condition it something and find a cool place where the soil is loose.

We can obtain younger specimens of this paradise tree using the seeds or cuttings of other specimens. We have two ways then when it comes to planting. If we do it through seed, it must be clear that the growth process will be much slower and it must be done in spring. If, on the other hand, we decide to sow it with cuttings, we will have to wait for the winter season and it will take less time to see it grow.

The main use of cinnamon is for ornamentation. Its wood is not used for economic use. One aspect to keep in mind is that they are deciduous, so we can only enjoy their shade in the spring and summer periods.

Aspects to take into account in cultivation

If you want to grow an evergreen cinnamon, ask your garden store about purchasing seeds or cuttings from the paradise tree to see the varieties. Their trunk is woody and they tend to grow sloping. So if you are going to sow it from a seed it is important that you put a tutor on it from the moment they start to grow. The roots tend to develop in places close to the surface so, when they are young, any gust of strong winds can kill it.

As for the fruits, they are small fleshy balls similar to dates or even olives. The color is somewhat brownish and they are edible. They are the food of some birds, such as the Myiopsitta monachus, but it is poisonous to mammals, including humans.

If we see how it grows more and more and becomes huge, we should not worry if we find some cracks and cracks in the trunk. It is normal in adult specimens. It has a great resistance to the climate, although it does not tolerate frost well. Its natural resistance makes it strong against different types of pests and diseases. All these characteristics and conditions make cinnamon a tree with a short life expectancy of 20 years maximum.

Pests and maintenance

The only pest that cinnamon is sensitive to is aphids. To prevent these insects from damaging our tree, we must pay special attention if they begin to appear. These insects tend to grow and expand in greater numbers in times of drought, so at these times it is better to have a more active watch over our tree. If it is not cared for and treated promptly, an adult specimen that has taken 30 years to grow could be gone in just a few days because of aphids.

To keep it in good condition regeneration pruning can be performed. The most used pruning is the one that uses the bonsai technique for bush format. If the tree is healthy and in normal conditions it does not need any type of pruning.

If the care conditions we have mentioned are maintained correctly, this tree grows quite fast. When in autumn the temperatures are not very low at all, the time it takes for the leaves to fall is longer, so while we can enjoy a typical autumn golden color. This color usually brings us nostalgia for the passage of time and the arrival of the harsh cold season of winter.

Finally, if the land where it is planted does not have a lot of humidity, it is better to keep it with a pH of up to 8,5. It tolerates somewhat high margins of lime and salt, so if you live near the coast there will be no problems.

I hope that with these tips you can enjoy your cinnamon and the good shade they provide.