The cassia tree known as the Chinese cinnamon is a hardy, durable shrub with fragrant and large leaves. It doesn’t flower frequently but produces red or yellow pea-sized flowers with purple spots which are very appealing.
You can use the cassia for ornamental purposes or as a medicinal herb due to its ability to cure several diseases. If you have a cassia tree in your garden, here are 25 beautiful varieties of cassia flowers for you to feast on!
1. Chinese Cassia Tree
Chinese cinnamon is also known as Cinnamomum aromaticum and it is used extensively in cooking because of its sweet aroma and unique flavor. It grows up to a height of about 9 meters and its leaves are used in cooking.
2. Taiwan Cassia Tree
The Taiwanese cassia is another variety that has the similar look as the Chinese cinnamon with large shiny green leaves and red pea-sized flowers but differs in taste and scent. If you intend to grow this tree, I suggest you go for cinnamon cassia instead of two other types that are available – the Indonesian or Ceylon cinnamon.
3. Red Jade Cassia Tree
The red jade cassia tree produces clusters of reddish-purple flowers every springtime. It’s a fast-growing plant that can produce white flowers if it is given shade and protection. It is a very popular plant among gardeners because of its ability to attract hummingbirds and butterflies into your garden or backyard.
4. Siam Cassia Tree
The siam cassia tree is another type of cinnamon in the cassia genus that produces clusters of white flowers which are followed by black fruit pods throughout summertime. The leaves are big and shiny brown with a velvety surface while the bark is rough, dark grayish-brown with shreds from previous years’ growth. This tree has compound leaves having around 7 leaflets arranged spirally at each leaflet’s end.
5. Tropical Cassia Tree
Tropical cassia grows up to 20 meters high and forms large clumps of glossy, aromatic leaves with entire margins. The small white flowers have red spots and are followed by clusters of dark purple fruits which turn black when they are ripe. It is a native plant of Mexico and is propagated by seeds or cuttings.
6. Variegated Cassia Tree
The variegated cassia tree has pale green to grayish-green leaves with silver markings that make it look very attractive in the garden or yard.
7. Moluccan Cassia Tree
Moluccan cassia produces bright yellow flowers throughout the summer months while its brownish bark tends to curl as it grows older, revealing thin strips of light gray inner bark beneath it. This species is drought resistant but grows well along streams as it can make use of extra moisture. It is a popular ornamental plant in warm areas.
8. Crepe Myrtle Cassia Tree
Crepe myrtle cassia is a vigorous growing plant that produces beautiful yellow flowers throughout the summertime. The bark on older plants tends to have peeling strips while younger specimens have smooth brownish-gray bark covered in shreds from previous years’ growth. The stems are slender and the young branches tend to hang down all year long even after pruning.
9 . American Cassia Tree
The American cassia tree has shiny leaves which are dark on top and pale green below while their edges are hairy like those of the lamb’s ear plant. It is a native plant of South America and is grown for its flowers as well as leaves which are used in the preparation of herbal remedies.
10 . Vietnamese Cassia Tree
The Vietnamese cassia tree is usually found at high altitudes in Vietnam where it grows vigorously with thick, glossy, and leathery dark green leaves. Its red or yellow fragrant flowers attract birds and bees onto your garden while the ripe fruits are used to produce an essential oil that has antiseptic properties. This species doesn’t tolerate cold temperatures but prefers warm regions though can tolerate frost if it isn’t too severe.
11. Chinese Silver Needle Cassia
This tree produces silver-white flowers all through springtime as well as clusters of black fruit pods during summer. It has a hairy bark that is dark grayish brown on the outer side and white or creamy-white in color underneath it.
The leaves are shiny green above while they are dull green below with whitish veins running through them. This tree grows best when planted near streams as it can benefit from extra moisture.
12 . Ceylon Cinnamon Cassia Tree
Ceylon cinnamon trees are usually found growing along the sea coasts where the soil contains plenty of sand and salt. Its stiff, glossy leaves have smooth edges which grow up to 40 centimeters across and occur in clusters at the end of each branch to form pyramidal shapes.
The flowers are pale pink or white in color and give way to round fruits which turn black when they are ripe. This species is excellent for erosion control, especially in sandy soil conditions as it can reinforce the soil structure through its deep root system.
13 . Cassia Tora
Cassia tora produces pretty flowers that are pink with rounded petals at their ends and yellow centers while the leaves have serrated edges. It grows up to 10 meters high and survives well in poor soils but prefers moist environments where it can get plenty of water during dry periods of the year.
This tree has many environmental benefits as it provides food for birds and insects to eat, acts as a shelter for them when they need a place to hide from predators or adverse weather conditions emerge, and is used for medicinal purposes by native people who live around regions where this tree grows naturally.
14 . Cassia Fago or Dwarf Cassia
This tree has glossy green leaves with heart-shaped edges and dark yellow flowers that bloom during springtime. It is an excellent plant for both residential and commercial landscaping as it isn’t too large in size, yet produces attractive flowers and fruit pods.
Its bark is brownish gray to light gray in color while its wood scrapes easily which makes it very suitable for carving into decorative objects. This species grows best in areas with abundant sunlight exposure but can handle some shade.
15 . Large Cassia Bush (Cassia Grandis)
The cassia Grandis tree produces long clusters of small white flowers from the end of each branch to form a heavy pyramid-like structure above them. The fruit pods are green when they begin to form but turn brown and woody when mature where they split open to release oval-shaped seeds.
The leaves turn reddish during summer due to the strain of too much sun exposure while their edges have many lines that run in different directions. This tree is frequently used for making paper as its fibers are very strong, durable, flexible, and absorbent. It grows best in areas with warm weather conditions but can tolerate some frost if it isn’t severe.
16 . Senna Cassia Tree
This plant produces yellow flowers throughout springtime which give way to brown seed pods that contain black seeds inside them after ripening.
Its leaves resemble those of a maple tree where they grow up to 7 centimeters across while they have smooth edges and shiny green underside that is covered with fine hairs. Senna cassia trees grow best in moist areas where they can obtain plenty of water but can tolerate some shade as well.
17 . White Kadara Cassia Tree
This species produces yellow flowers during springtime that turn reddish-brown after pollination occurs. Its leaves resemble those of a maple tree since they are oval-shaped with pointed ends, yet smaller in size which only grow up to 3 centimeters across on average while the edges have several lines running on them in different directions.
It grows well in dry areas because it has strong roots which easily penetrate through rocky or sandy soil conditions. This plant’s wood is highly resistant to rotting so it is frequently in demand for making furniture and other household items.
18 . Cassia Fistula or Golden Shower Tree
Cassia fistula produces large clusters of bright yellow flowers that give way to long pods during autumn where they split open to release seeds. The leaves are narrow with pointed tips while the underside is covered with fine hairs hence the popular name of golden shower tree.
It grows well in arid regions due to its deep taproot which can penetrate through dry soil conditions, however, it prefers moist environments as well for optimum growth rates. This plant’s bark is light grey in color with small cracks on its surface while its wood scrapes easily when carved by a knife, hence it is frequently used for carving decorative objects.
19 . Wild Pale Cassia Tree
The wild pale cassia tree produces large clusters of small white flowers during springtime which give way to long pods when autumn arrives. Its leaves are oval-shaped with pointed tips, yet smaller in size which grows up to 4 centimeters across on average while the edges have several lines running on them in different directions.
This species grows best in arid regions because its taproot can penetrate through dry soil but it prefers moist environments as well for optimum growth rates. The bark is brownish-gray in color while its wood easily scrapes, hence it is frequently used for carving decorative objects and also for making paper products.
20 . Dwarf Cassia Tree
The dwarf cassia tree produces maple-like leaves with wavy edges that are dark green in color. It grows best in arid regions where it can obtain plenty of water because its taproot can penetrate through rocky or sandy soil conditions with ease, however it will tolerate some shade as well. The flowers are white in color where they are small and grow from the end of each branch to form a round shape above them.
21 . Winged Cassia Tree
This plant produces yellow flowers during springtime that turn reddish brown after pollination occurs. Its leaves resemble those of a maple tree since they are oval-shaped with pointed ends, yet smaller in size which only grow up to 4 centimeters across on average while the edges have several lines running on them at different directions.
They prefer moist environments for optimum growth rates, so watering is occasionally required throughout the growing season. The flowers are bright yellow in color.
22 . Cassia Obtusifolia
Cassia obtusifolia produces small white flowers that grow from long stalks while its leaves resemble those of a maple tree because they are simply-shaped leaves with pointed tips, yet wider and larger which only grow up to 5 centimeters across on average while the edges have several lines running on them at different directions.
This plant’s bark is greyish brown in color. It prefers moist environments for optimum growth rates, so watering is occasionally required throughout the growing season.
23 . Cassia Tora or Prickly Cassia Tree
The prickly cassia tree produces small clusters of large yellow flowers during springtime which give way to long pods when autumn arrives. Its leaves are wide and oval-shaped with pointed tips, yet smaller in size which grow up to 4 centimeters across on average while the edges have several lines running on them at different directions.
It grows best in arid regions due to its deep taproot which can penetrate through dry soil conditions, however it prefers moist environments as well for optimum growth rates. The bark is greyish brown in color while its wood easily scrapes, hence it is frequently used for carving decorative objects and also for making paper products.
24 . Apple blossom Cassia Tree
The Apple blossom cassia tree produces large clusters of small white flowers during springtime which give way to long pods when autumn arrives. Its leaves are wide and oval-shaped with pointed tips, yet smaller in size which grows up to 4 centimeters across on average while the edges have several lines running on them in different directions.
This plant grows best in arid regions since it can obtain plenty of water because its taproot can penetrate through rocky or sandy soil conditions with ease, however, it will tolerate some shade as well. The seeds are reddish-brown in color.
25 . Chinese Soap Tree
Chinese soaptree is a small shrub that produces flowers from mid-summer to fall. The leaves are shaped like those of an olive tree, yet oval in shape with pointed ends which grow up to 12 centimeters across on average.
Its bark is brownish grey in color where it is used for medicinal purposes with numerous health benefits, while its wood easily scrapes, hence it is frequently used for carving decorative objects and also for making paper products.
