What are Cacao Plants?

These are live cacao plants, Theobroma cacao, the tropical tree whose seeds are the source of chocolate, cocoa, and cacao products. We offer them in three classic cultivar groups: Criollo, Forastero, and Trinitario.

About cacao

Theobroma cacao is a small understory tree in the mallow family (Malvaceae), the same family as okra and cotton. It is native to the Amazon basin and Mesoamerica, where it has been cultivated for at least three thousand years by the Olmec, Maya, and Aztec peoples. The genus name Theobroma translates from Greek as "food of the gods." Cacao is cauliflorous, meaning its flowers and pods grow directly from the trunk and older branches rather than at the branch tips.

The three cultivar groups

Criollo is the old heirloom type, prized for flavor and less common in commercial planting. Forastero is the hardy, widely grown group that makes up most of the world's cacao. Trinitario is a hybrid of the two, combining Criollo character with Forastero vigor. Choose your variety from the options on this page.

Growing cacao

Cacao is a strict tropical plant. It needs consistent warmth, roughly 70 to 85°F, high humidity, and protection from cold; temperatures below about 50°F are typically fatal to it. In most of North America that means growing it indoors or in a greenhouse. Give it bright but filtered light, rich well-draining soil, and steady moisture without waterlogging. It grows well in a large container of ten gallons or more for indoor or greenhouse cultivation. In ideal conditions a plant may begin to fruit in four to five years.

Cacao Plants at a glance

Botanical name

Theobroma cacao

Family

Malvaceae

Native region

Amazon basin and Mesoamerica

Type

Live plant

Cultivar groups

Criollo, Forastero, Trinitario

Climate

Tropical, warmth and high humidity