Trinitario Cacao Tree (Chocolate Tree), 3 Gal, Home-Grown in Miami
Trinitario Cacao Tree for Sale in Florida
Trinitario is a hardy Criollo x Forastero hybrid and one of the main cacao types in fine chocolate. It's the cacao we grow here in Miami. Give it filtered shade while young and shelter from wind, and protect it on nights that dip toward the 40s. In Florida outside Miami-Dade, keep it in a pot you can move. See Trinitario vs Nacional cacao.
Grown by Tony in Miami. Bigger trees from $40. Ships nationwide, special shipping in Florida. Text Tony: 786-774-2125
Our 3-gallon Trinitario cacao is $45.
Shipping: We ship nationwide, with special shipping in Florida. UPS Ground runs about $8 in Florida and about $15 elsewhere in the US. Orders of $99+ ship free in Florida and $129+ ship free nationwide. You can also pick up anytime at our nursery, 2264 SW 22nd Ave, Miami, FL 33145.
What you get:
One Trinitario cacao tree (Theobroma cacao) in a 3-gallon pot
14 in.+ tall
Grown in Miami by Tony
Care tips (below) for sun, water, humidity and cold protection
Want to see bigger-size photos of the tree you'd get? Text Tony at 786-774-2125.
From Tony, the grower: Grown by Tony himself at our Miami nursery. Every Trinitario Cacao we send is a tree I've looked after here in Miami.
Size: Listed at 14"+ in a 3 gallon pot. See our shipping policy for how trees are packed for shipping.
Bigger trees, fairer prices. We keep our prices fair so you get more tree for your money.
Care basics: Give it filtered sun or partial shade while young, rich well-draining soil, and steady moisture (never soggy). Cacao loves humidity and hates wind and cold, so protect it from cold snaps and strong breezes. Feed lightly during the warm months.
Makes a great gift: Sending it as a gift? Email your gift message to tony@giardinofresco.com after you order and we'll include a gift note with the tree.
Questions? Call or text Tony at 786-774-2125.
Trinitario Cacao Tree (Theobroma cacao ‘Trinitario’) – Premium Fine-Flavor Hybrid
Bring the legendary “best of both worlds” cacao into your tropical garden with our healthy, vigorously rooted Trinitario cacao plants from Giardino Fresco.
Born in Trinidad in the 18th century when Criollo and Forastero trees naturally cross-pollinated, Trinitario combines the complex, aromatic flavor of delicate Criollo with the hardiness, higher yields, and better disease resistance of robust Forastero. It is prized worldwide by craft chocolate makers for its rich, multi-layered profile—fruity acidity, floral notes, nutty undertones, spice, and a clean chocolate base—while remaining far more practical to grow than pure Criollo.
Why grow Trinitario cacao?
• Fine-flavor beans ideal for homemade chocolate, ceremonial cacao, or simply enjoying the fresh white pulp surrounding the seeds.
• Attractive, colorful pods (often ridged and ranging from red, orange, yellow, green, to purple) that develop directly on the trunk and branches—a striking ornamental feature.
• More productive and resilient than pure Criollo, making it better suited for home gardens in warm climates.
• A true conversation-piece tropical tree that produces the “food of the gods.”
Growing notes for South Florida & similar climates
Trinitario thrives in partial shade to filtered sun when young, then full sun as it matures. It prefers rich, well-draining soil, consistent moisture, high humidity, and protection from strong winds and frost. In Miami and USDA zones 10–11 it can be grown in the ground; elsewhere it performs well in large containers. Expect flowers and pods once the tree is established (typically several years depending on size and care).
Add this exceptional hybrid to your collection and experience the unique pleasure of harvesting your own fine-flavor cacao right at home. Limited stock of healthy, nursery-grown plants available now at giardinofresco.com.
Cacao (chocolate tree) growing guide
Plant facts at a glance
Botanical name: Theobroma cacao
Listed size: 3 gallon (14 in.+ listed)
Mature size: An understory tree, about 10–20 ft in the ground. Often kept at 6–10 ft in containers.
Sun: Filtered sun or partial shade, especially while young. Protect it from strong wind.
Water: Steady moisture and high humidity. Never let it dry out or sit waterlogged.
Cold hardiness / USDA zones: Very cold sensitive. Outdoors only in frost-free zone 10b–11 sites. Stressed below 50°F and damaged near freezing. In most of our shipping states, grow it in a container and bring it in for winter.
Time to fruit: Seed-grown trees often take a few years to flower. Pods grow directly on the trunk and branches.
Taste and uses: Fermented and roasted seeds make chocolate and cocoa nibs. The sweet-tart white pulp around the seeds is eaten fresh or made into juice.
Container vs. in-ground: Well suited to a large pot (15–25 gallons as it grows) on a shaded patio or in a bright room.
Growing cacao outside South Florida
In Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Louisiana, Texas and north and central Florida, treat cacao as a patio or indoor tree. Keep it in a large pot in bright, filtered light, and bring it inside when nights drop below 50°F. Raise humidity with a pebble tray or by grouping plants, and keep it away from heating vents.
From pod to chocolate
Harvest pods when they change color (yellow, orange or red, depending on the tree) and sound hollow when tapped.
Scoop out the seeds and pulp, then ferment them covered for 5–7 days, turning daily.
Sun- or oven-dry the beans, roast them, crack and winnow them into nibs, then grind.
Care
Use rich, well-draining, slightly acidic soil with plenty of organic matter.
Mulch to keep the roots cool and moist.
Feed lightly and often in the warm season.
Flowers are pollinated by tiny midges. Hand pollination can help pod set.
Frequently asked questions
Can I grow a cacao tree in Florida?
Yes, in frost-free South Florida in a sheltered, shaded spot. Elsewhere, grow it in a container and bring it in when temperatures drop below 50°F.
How long until a cacao tree makes pods?
Seed-grown trees often take a few years to flower and set pods.
Does cacao need full sun?
No. It prefers filtered light or partial shade, especially when young.
Can I make chocolate from my tree?
Yes. The seeds are fermented, dried, roasted and ground. It's a fun home project.
Do you ship to my state?
Yes. We ship nationwide, with special shipping in Florida. Shipping is calculated at checkout; orders of $99+ ship free in Florida and $129+ ship free elsewhere in the US. Questions? Call or text Tony at 786-774-2125.
Growing information is based on University of Florida IFAS Extension guidance. Results vary with climate and care.
