Red leaves of the cinnamon tree. Cinnamomum verum, also known as cinnamon or Ceylon cinnamon, is a small evergreen tree in the Lauraceae family native to Sri Lanka. The inner bark of several other Cinnamomum species is also used to make cinnamon, but C. verum has a subtle flavor that makes it preferred for certain recipes. C. verum is also a great health booster due to its components that act as protection against some chronic health conditions.