Clove
Syzygium aromaticum
The spice is the unopened pink flower bud, picked by hand and sun-dried; a tree of humid islands.
Hardiness: zones 11 to 12
Light: part shade
Size: about 30 ft tall, 15 ft wide
Harvest: July to October
From: Maluku Islands
Here: Too tender to overwinter outdoors on the Lake Erie shore (zone 6b to 7a): grow it in a pot and bring it in, or treat it as an annual.
Good for: food, traditional use.
Native to: South & Southeast Asian tropics. Hardy in zones 11 to 12.
The story
Cloves grew only on a few small islands of Maluku until the 1700s. They reached Han China and Rome by long trade routes, and wars were fought over them. Islanders planted a clove tree at the birth of each child.
Planting
A humid tropical climate, part shade when young and rich, well-drained soil.
Growing
Slow; trees flower after six years or more. Keep them mulched and sheltered from wind.
Harvest and use
Pick the flower buds by hand when they turn from green to pink, before they open, and dry them in the sun until brown.
What to watch for
Drought and wind. Trees crop heavily only every few years.
Safety
Medicinal uses here are shared as history, not advice. Kitchen amounts are fine for most people, but teas, tinctures and supplements can interact with medicines and aren't safe for everyone, especially in pregnancy, while breastfeeding, for children, or with liver or kidney problems. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before taking any plant as medicine.
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More tropical and subtropical food plants
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home