Unlikely — Zone Mismatch
cacao (zones 11-12) does not overlap with Louisiana's zone range (8b-10b). Growing outdoors is unlikely without significant protection.
One zone short — what would close it
Cacao is hardy to zone 11, and the warmest ground in Louisiana is zone 10 — 1 zone short. Planted in open ground it will not survive a Louisiana winter. To grow it here, grow cacao in a container and move it under cover for the coldest weeks, or give it a greenhouse.
Season extension and overwintering under cover both work at this margin. How to buy the weeks →
Zone math from 11-12 (plant) against 8-10 (Louisiana). Lift modeled by crop_engine Sprint 20B effective_zone_modifier (+2 zones) via api/fast_sections.py Unlock Engine v2.
Your yard isn't the whole zone.
Louisiana spans zones 8b-10b, but your yard sits in exactly one — and slope, tree cover, and cold-air pockets nudge it further. Enter your address and we'll score cacao against your parcel's actual hardiness, soil, and sun.
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Zone Comparison
Cacao Needs
- USDA Zones: 11-12
- Frost-Free Days: 180+
- Sun: Full Sun
- Mature size: 25 ft tall
- Drought tolerance: Low
Louisiana Has
- USDA Zones: 8b-10b
- Last Hard Freeze (28°F): Jan 30 - Feb 17
- First Hard Freeze (28°F): Nov 30 - Dec 8
- Annual Rainfall: 50-65 inches
- Common Soils: Alluvial clay, Muck, Sandy loam
Plant Zone Range (zones 11-12)
Preferred Soil pH
Plant data: USDA PLANTS Database / Growable Ground plant catalog. State data: USDA ARS PHZM 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NRCS SSURGO.
When to Plant Cacao in Louisiana
The frost window
Across Louisiana, the last spring hard freeze (28°F) clears between Jan 30 and Feb 17, and the first fall hard freeze lands between Nov 30 and Dec 8 (NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020). Counting from the latest last freeze to the earliest first freeze, that's a 286-day window you can count on — up to 312 days on a mild site in a kind year. That marks the hard freeze, not the last light frost, so tender transplants usually wait another 2-3 weeks.
Winter standing
Louisiana runs as cold as USDA zone 8, and no sourced winter-hardiness floor is on record for cacao, so this page does not state whether it overwinters here — and gives no fall establishment date on the strength of a guess. Whether cacao is a permanent planting or a replant-every-spring crop for you turns on your own zone within Louisiana; check its hardiness range against that before treating it as long-lived ground.
Timing tuned to sub-state frost dates — Claiborne County, not the statewide average.
Frost window: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020. Plant timing fields: USDA PLANTS Database. Your site's own frost dates can run earlier or later than the state range — a parcel report pins them down.
Growing Season Fit
The zone check says cacao does not survive a Louisiana winter in the ground. The season figures below measure a different question — whether it could finish a season here at all — and they only bear on Louisiana under protection.
Frost-free days
Cacao wants 180+ frost-free days; a typical Louisiana site sees ~298 (NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020). That leaves comfortable headroom for succession planting.
Growing degree days
Cacao needs ~5000 GDD (base 50°F) to ripen. The state median runs ~6204 GDD (from PRISM 1991-2020 climate normals), so Louisiana's typical season clears that easily.
Chill hours
Cacao has no winter-chill requirement — its listed minimum is 0 hours (USDA PLANTS Database). Louisiana typically banks ~641 chill hours per winter (from PRISM 1991-2020 climate normals), so chill is not a constraint on this plant here — and not evidence in its favour either. Winter survival and season length are what decide it.
GDD and chill-hour figures are computed from PRISM 1991-2020 monthly climate normals; frost-free days from NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020. Each is the state median across its counties (P25/P75 span the within-state spread). Hardiness-zone range is USDA PHZM 2023.
Soil + Drainage Fit
Cacao tolerates a wide pH range (pH 4-8) — 4 units, acid ground through alkaline — so soil acidity is rarely what limits it in Louisiana. A soil test is still worth having, but for what else it tells you about this site, not to clear this plant. It will grow across that whole span, but it does best between pH 5 and 6.5 — worth knowing before you decide whether a Louisiana soil test result is a problem or just a number. Drainage matters: this plant wants well (dry spells). If your Louisiana site is heavier clay or sits in a low spot, raised beds or amendment with compost solve it.
Your land, not the state average
SSURGO maps about 45.5% of Louisiana as poorly or somewhat-poorly drained, and the class flips parcel to parcel. Cacao has low drought tolerance, so it is the fast-draining end that will cost you — your soil map unit, not the state average, is the real answer.
Check your parcel → Source: USDA NRCS SSURGO.
Plant pH and drainage requirements from USDA PLANTS Database. Louisiana soil profile from USDA NRCS SSURGO. Site-specific verification: a 30-minute soil test from your local Extension lab.
Cacao in Louisiana — Quick Answer
- Verdict: Unlikely — Zone Mismatch
- Plant Zones: 11-12 (USDA PLANTS Database)
- State Zones: 8b-10b (USDA ARS PHZM 2023)
- Growing Season: 28°F hard freezes about Jan 30 - Feb 17 to Nov 30 - Dec 8 (NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020)
What Else to Consider for Cacao in Louisiana
Zone compatibility tells you about winter cold survival — but Louisiana growers also need to think about:
Extreme humidity and rainfall promote rot and fungal diseases
Poor drainage in delta and coastal areas
Hurricane damage risk from June through November
Growing cacao here specifically
Cacao needs sharp drainage and sends deep roots hardy to about 50°F; in Louisiana, about 45.5% of soils are poorly-drained (SSURGO), and standing water is what actually kills it.
Build cacao up on a coarse, free-draining mound so its crown never sit in saturated soil. How to handle it →
What to actually do about these — and the constraints that apply to every Louisiana grower, not just cacao — is covered on the Louisiana growing guide.
Timing shifts within Louisiana
Louisiana isn't one climate. In Claiborne County, the last hard freeze (28°F) holds until about Mar 2 — roughly 19 days later than the recorded state median — so plant cacao to your county's window, not the statewide date.
Cacao needs about 180 days of frost-free season to complete its cycle. Even Claiborne County — Louisiana’s shortest season at 265 frost-free days — clears that by 85 days, so season length isn’t the constraint anywhere in Louisiana. What varies is your own parcel.
Across Louisiana’s 64 counties the frost-free season runs from 265 days in Claiborne County to 365 days in Plaquemines County — a spread of 100 days, which is why a single statewide planting date misleads. The median Louisiana county sees 298 frost-free days, leaving cacao about 118 days of slack on a typical parcel — room for a second sowing where the season runs long.
County last-freeze dates and frost-free day counts: NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS (1991-2020), county 28°F freeze (earlier than the folk 32°F "last frost"). Cacao's 180-day requirement: USDA PLANTS / Growable Ground plant database (minimum frost-free days). A parcel report resolves your address's own frost dates.
Good to Know Before You Plant Cacao
Cacao is listed as toxic to dogs, cats (all) at a severe level (ASPCA). Most listed plants only cause brief upset — a raised bed or a fenced corner usually keeps curious pets clear.
Louisiana Cooperative Extension
For Louisiana-specific cultivar recommendations, planting calendars, and pest pressure for cacao, the canonical source is LSU AgCenter. Their fact sheets carry the local trial data we can't generalize across 50 states.
Is Cacao native to Louisiana?
No — the USDA PLANTS Database lists Cacao as introduced rather than native in the Lower 48, so it is not part of Louisiana's native flora. It grows here as a garden plant; pairing it with a few Louisiana natives keeps local pollinators fed too.
Looking for plants that belong here? The Louisiana growing guide lists USDA-documented natives for the state.
Native-range data: USDA PLANTS Database state-distribution records, accessed 2026-07-01.
Common Questions About Growing Cacao in Louisiana
When can I plant Cacao in Louisiana?
Louisiana's last spring hard freeze (28°F) clears between Jan 30 and Feb 17, and the first fall hard freeze lands between Nov 30 and Dec 8 (NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020). No sourced winter-hardiness floor is on record for Cacao, so this page does not state whether it overwinters in Louisiana and publishes no fall establishment date for it — check its hardiness range against your own zone before treating it as a permanent planting.
What hardiness zone is Cacao grown in across Louisiana?
Louisiana spans USDA hardiness zones 8b-10b (USDA ARS PHZM 2023). Cacao carries a range of zones 11-12, so the overlap zones are where outdoor growing is most reliable.
How many frost-free days does a typical Louisiana site have?
A typical Louisiana site sees ~298 frost-free days per year (derived from NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020). Cacao needs 180+ frost-free days, so check whether your local microclimate runs above or below the state average before settling on a planting date. In cooler counties like Claiborne, the freeze-free season runs shorter than the state average, so verify your own county's window.
Is Cacao native to Louisiana?
No — the USDA PLANTS Database lists Cacao as introduced rather than native in the Lower 48, so it is not part of Louisiana's native flora. It grows here as a garden plant; pairing it with a few Louisiana natives keeps local pollinators fed too.
How should I amend the soil for Cacao in Louisiana?
Cacao tolerates pH 4-8 and well (dry spells) drainage (FAO ECOCROP). That is a 4-unit span, acid ground through alkaline, so pH is rarely what limits this plant on a Louisiana site — amend for drainage and organic matter first.
Will Cacao actually grow on my specific land in Louisiana?
State-level zone + climate data is a sketch. A Growable Ground parcel report scores cacao against your address's exact soil pH, drainage, sun, and frost-date data drawn from USDA SSURGO, NOAA, and PRISM — not state averages.
Check your specific parcel in Louisiana
State-level data is a sketch. Your Growable Ground report scores cacao against your parcel's exact soil, sun, drainage, and frost data — not zone averages.
Three things about your lot that Louisiana cacao averages can't show:
We read public map data around Louisiana — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
25+ data sources read at your address, not the Louisiana cacao average
Explore More
Growing guides for cacao
Analysis by the Growable Ground research team, grounded in USDA PLANTS, USDA NRCS SSURGO, NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020), and named Cooperative Extension sources. How we know →
Cite this dataset
Kirchick, M. (2026). Growable Ground Plant Database [Data set]. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21435643
Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. DOI 10.5281/zenodo.21435643
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