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Plants

trinitario cacao

Theobroma cacao L.

Family: Malvaceae · Genus: Theobroma

Secondary II Medium No biomass production
USAID Digital Development · CC BY · Wikimedia Commons

Hybrid group (Forastero × Criollo) originating in Trinidad. Combines Forastero's vigor with Criollo's cup quality. Medium height (5–8 m), intermediate disease tolerance. Important in Bahia's cabruca systems and Brazil's premium fine-cacao market.

📚 Synonyms

Scientific synonyms: Theobroma cacao 'Trinitario'

Götsch succession

Götsch stage
Secondary II
Ecological role
Late secondary
Primary stratum
Medium
Strata
Medium, Low
Biomass class
No biomass production

Environment

Light requirement
Partial shade
Water requirement
High
Drought tolerance
Low
Waterlogging tolerance
Low
Soil pH range
5–7
Preferred soil texture
Loamy, Clayey
Hardiness zones
11–13
Frost tolerance
10.0 °C

Morphology

Mature height
5–8 m
Recommended spacing
3–4 m
Root system
Taproot
Root depth
Medium
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifespan
40–70 years
Time to first harvest
48 months
Productive lifespan
35 years

Biomes & climate

Köppen classes

Where it fits in a guild

Trinitario cacao takes the Medium stratum in the Secondary II phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time.

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Emergent High Medium · ≈8 m Low Ground cover

🪴 Cultivation

Spacing 3×3 m in syntropic systems. Moderate shade (50–70%). Good cross-pollination with other clones.

📅 Phenology

Flowering months: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

Fruiting months: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

❓ Frequently asked questions

How long until the first harvest of trinitario cacao?

The first harvest of trinitario cacao comes around 48 months after planting.

What spacing is recommended for trinitario cacao?

The recommended spacing for trinitario cacao is 3–4 m.

How tall does trinitario cacao grow?

At maturity, trinitario cacao reaches 5–8 m tall.

When does trinitario cacao fruit?

Fruiting of trinitario cacao occurs in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.

When does trinitario cacao flower?

Flowering of trinitario cacao occurs in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.

What stage and stratum does trinitario cacao occupy in a syntropic system?

In a syntropic system, trinitario cacao belongs to the secondary ii stage, occupying the medium stratum.

Functions

🍎 Fruit 🍯 Melliferous

Propagation

Seed, Grafting

Citations

  1. Revista Agro Productividad — Biología floral de cacao Criollo, Trinitario y Forastero (description, primary_stratum)
  2. Useful Tropical Plants — Theobroma cacao (ph_min, ph_max, root_system, root_depth, waterlogging_tolerance, soil_texture_preference)
  3. PFAF Plant Database — Theobroma cacao (hardiness_zone_min, hardiness_zone_max, frost_tolerance_c)

External references

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