Family: Lauraceae

An invasive tropical tree with a low-quality aroma. Native to Indonesia, Cinnamomum burmannii has thrived in Hawaiʻi’s tropical climate since its introduction in the 1930s. While it does yield the cinnamon spice, other species produce a higher quality product. Widely planted as a reforestation tree and now naturalized on all the main islands, C. burmannii is a severe pest for some watersheds. It can colonize and dominate native forests due in part to its ability to grow in deep shade, prolific seeding production, and viable seed dispersal by birds. The root network tends to be shallow, a weak structure to keep topsoil from washing away. Besides that, C. burnamii does not hold up in high wind events and easily falls over. This species hosts a plethora of pests such as beetles, whiteflies, scale, thrips, moths, nematodes, and fungal disease. It can be distinguished from other cinnamons by the coppery color of new leaves.

Description and Dispersal:

• An evergreen tree reaching 15 meters tall
  
• New leaves are coppery in color, turning green with age
  
• 3 prominent longitudinal veins on oval leaves
  
• Cinnamom smell is emitted from the bark when scratched
  
• Fruit is an ellipsoid berry
  
• Seeds dispersed by birds and humans

High Risk Traits:

• Established Invasiveness: Naturalized in Hawai'i (O'ahu, Maui, Kaua'i) and viewed as a "serious pest" in West Maui watersheds.
  
• Environmental Weed: Forms dense, monotypic stands that displace native vegetation, even in low-light understory conditions.
  
• Congeneric Weed: Related species (Cinnamomum camphora) is a known invasive environmental weed.
  
• Shade Tolerant: Can establish and recruit seedlings in shaded, forested environments.
  
• Bird Dispersed: Fruits are consumed and dispersed by multiple bird species (e.g., bulbuls, white-eyes, mynas).
  
• Viable Seeds & Gut Survival: Produces viable seeds that survive bird gut passage, enhancing spread.
  
• Human Dispersed: Intentionally planted as a street, reforestation, and ornamental tree.
  
• Wide Environmental Tolerance: Grows from sea level to 2,000 m elevation; tolerates a range of soil types.
  
• Forms Dense Thickets: Creates monotypic stands with high seedling recruitment.
  
• Host for Pests/Pathogens: Can host significant pathogens like Phytophthora cinnamomi.

Low Risk Traits:

• Non-Toxic: No evidence of toxicity to humans or animals.
  
• Not Allelopathic: No evidence of chemical inhibition of other plants.
  
• No Physical Defenses: Lacks spines, thorns, or burrs.
  
• Not a Fire Hazard: Considered a fire-resistant species in some studies.
  
• Not a Prolific Seed Producer: Relatively large seeds; unlikely to produce >1,000 seeds/m².
  
• No External Dispersal Adaptations: Fruits lack hooks or attachments for animal fur or human clothing.
  
• Not Wind or Water Dispersed: No specific adaptations for wind or consistent water dispersal.
  
• Herbicide Susceptible: Can be controlled with herbicides (e.g., Garlon 3A, imazapyr).