Cloves are the aromatic flower buds of a tree in the family Myrtaceae, Syzygium aromaticum. The clove tree is an evergreen that grows up to 8 to 12 m tall, with large leaves and crimson flowers grouped in terminal clusters. The flower buds initially have a pale hue, gradually turn green, then transition to a bright red when ready for harvest. The clove tree trunk has smooth bark with grayish-yellow aromatic foliage. It is a slow-growing but long-lived tree and can exceed 100 years of age easily. Clove trees require a warm, humid climate with 50 to 70 inches of rainfall annually and a minimum temperature of 59 degrees F.
