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Plants

cupuaçu

Theobroma grandiflorum (Willd. ex Spreng.) K.Schum.

Family: Malvaceae · Genus: Theobroma

cupuassu

Secondary I Medium No biomass production
BjoernS. Original uploader was BjoernS at de.wikipedia · CC BY-SA · iNaturalist

Amazonian high-stratum fruit tree, cousin of cocoa. Pasini lists it in the high stratum of Tabela 3 and among Abundance-system species — middle phase of Amazonian syntropic agroforestry systems.

Götsch succession

Götsch stage
Secondary I
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
5–6.5
Preferred soil texture
Loamy

Morphology

Mature height
5–12 m
Recommended spacing
5–7 m
Root system
Taproot
Root depth
Medium
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifespan
≥ 30 years
Time to first harvest
36 months

Biomes & climate

Köppen classes

Where it fits in a guild

Cupuaçu takes the Medium stratum in the Secondary I 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 · ≈12 m Low Ground cover

🪴 Cultivation

Warm, humid climate (22–30 °C, high humidity). Deep, well-drained, organic-rich soil, pH 5.0–6.5; tolerates low-fertility soils. Prefers shade when young but also fruits in full sun. Spacing 5–7 m; plant in the rainy season. Average yield around 25 fruits/plant (≈3.2 t/ha).

📅 Phenology

Flowering months: October, November

Fruiting months: January, February, March, April, May

❓ Frequently asked questions

How long until the first harvest of cupuaçu?

The first harvest of cupuaçu comes around 36 months after planting.

What spacing is recommended for cupuaçu?

The recommended spacing for cupuaçu is 5–7 m.

How tall does cupuaçu grow?

At maturity, cupuaçu reaches 5–12 m tall.

When does cupuaçu fruit?

Fruiting of cupuaçu occurs in January, February, March, April, May.

When does cupuaçu flower?

Flowering of cupuaçu occurs in October, November.

What stage and stratum does cupuaçu occupy in a syntropic system?

In a syntropic system, cupuaçu belongs to the secondary i stage, occupying the medium stratum.

Functions

🍎 Fruit Oil seed

Propagation

Seed, Grafting

Citations

  1. Pasini, F. & Guimarães, L. (2017) — Conceitos e princípios práticos da agrofloresta sucessional, Tabela 3 (Incaper) , p. 116 (primary_stratum)
  2. Pasini, F. & Guimarães, L. (2017) — Sistema de Abundância , p. 118 (gotsch_stage)
  3. IDAM — Cultivo de cupuaçu na agricultura familiar (Amazonas) (ph_min, ph_max, spacing_min_m, spacing_max_m, water_need, light_need, cultivation_notes)
  4. Sítio da Mata — Cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum) (ph_min, ph_max, phenology, height_max_m, light_need)
  5. Correio Braziliense — plantio e produção de cupuaçu (spacing_min_m, spacing_max_m, phenology, cultivation_notes)

External references

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