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🚚 Shipping Update:
We’re now shipping nationwide across the continental U.S. again! 🌱
📦 Please note: Shipping to California remains paused due to agricultural regulations.
🌿 Cuban Cassava – The Classic Caribbean Yuca With Superior Flavor & Culinary Performance
Manihot esculenta (Traditional White-Stem Caribbean Type) 🍠🌴
If you love authentic Caribbean cuisine — Cuban, Puerto Rican, Dominican, Jamaican, Trinidadian, Haitian, and beyond — this is the cassava you want in your garden. The “Cuban” type (a traditional white-stem Caribbean landrace) is famous for its firm, dense flesh, exceptional boiling quality, and rich, old-world “yuca” flavor that holds its shape beautifully in stews, soups, and iconic dishes like yuca con mojo, casabe, fufu, sancocho, and more.
This is the cassava passed down through households, farms, and island kitchens for generations — reliable, flavorful, and deeply rooted in Caribbean food culture.
🌿 🔥 Quick Facts — Cuban Cassava (Traditional Caribbean Yuca)
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Manihot esculenta (Traditional white-stem Caribbean type) |
| Plant Type | Perennial tropical root crop |
| Size at Sale | Ships in 1-gallon pot (top size varies seasonally) |
| Estimated Age | 3–9 months depending on pruning & season |
| Mature Height | 6–10 ft unpruned; 5–7 ft managed |
| Mature Width | 4–6 ft |
| USDA Zones | 9–11 (survives in 8b with root protection) |
| Sun Requirements | Full sun preferred |
| Salt Tolerance | Moderate |
| Wind Tolerance | High once stems thicken |
| Cold Sensitivity | Frost-tender; resprouts from roots |
| Growth Habit | Upright-to-spreading, vigorous |
| Spacing | 3–5 ft |
| Flavor | Traditional savory yuca, firm & dense |
| Texture | Holds shape when boiled; non-watery |
| Cautions | ⚠️ Must be peeled & cooked to neutralize cyanogenic compounds |
🌱 Why Grow the Cuban Cassava?
- ⭐ Superior cooking quality — holds shape in stews
- 🍽️ Authentic traditional Caribbean flavor
- 🍠 Produces thick, cylindrical, heavy roots
- 🌞 Thrives in heat & poor soils
- 💪 Extremely resilient & forgiving crop
- 🌿 Excellent for food forests & regenerative systems
- 🔁 Propagates endlessly from cuttings
- 🍃 Wider canopy = great microclimate creation
If you want the cultivar most trusted in Caribbean kitchens, this is the one.
🌍 Origin Story: A Caribbean Staple With Deep Roots
Cassava was first cultivated by Indigenous Taíno and Arawak peoples throughout the Caribbean long before European contact. Over centuries, regional farmers selected landraces for:
- Texture
- Flavor
- Boiling quality
- Climate resilience
The “Cuban” cassava grown today is not exclusive to one island — it’s a shared Caribbean heirloom variety, representing centuries of careful stewardship in tropical agriculture.
This landrace became essential in Caribbean cooking traditions because of its firm, reliable texture that doesn't fall apart when boiled — a defining culinary characteristic.
🍽️ Culinary Excellence — What Makes Cuban Cassava Special
This cultivar is prized not for sweetness, but for texture.
⭐ Best Uses:
- Yuca con mojo
- Dominican sancocho
- Haitian tomtom or bouillon
- Puerto Rican and Trinidadian stews
- Casabe flatbread
- Boiled yuca dishes
- Thick-cut yuca fries
Signature Qualities:
- Dense, firm, creamy flesh
- Classic savory yuca flavor
- Stays intact after boiling
- Great for absorbing sauce & spice
⚠️ Cyanide Safety — Proper Preparation Is Essential
All cassava varieties contain cyanogenic glucosides.
To ensure safe consumption:
⚠️ NEVER eat cassava raw
⚠️ ALWAYS peel thoroughly
⚠️ ALWAYS boil until tender (15–20 minutes), then bake or fry if desired
Cooking neutralizes cyanide, making cassava completely safe and delicious.
🌿 Seasonal Growth Habits (Florida & Similar Climates)
- Spring: New flushing & fast growth
- Summer: Strong canopy expansion; tuber initiation
- Fall: Slight slowdown; great planting window
- Winter: Top growth frost-sensitive; roots remain alive beneath mulch
🌱 Best Practices for Planting & Care
(Aligned with GreenDreams SOP standards )
🌞 Where to Plant
- Full sun
- Well-drained soil
- Avoid standing water
🌿 Preferred Soil Conditions
- Sandy, rocky, or poor soils accepted
- Compost optional
- Avoid heavy clay unless amended
🌱 How to Plant (High & Tight Method)
Keep in container until new growth emerges after shipping.
- Dig a hole slightly wider than the pot
- Plant at same depth as in the container
- Backfill & firm soil around root ball
- Apply mulch, keeping several inches from stem
- Use Pete Kanaris’ planting tutorial:https://youtu.be/RRQFY30qdA8?si=rRIcsbLlVAVYotfI
💧 Watering Guidelines
In Containers
- Daily watering in warm seasons
- Ensure drainage
In Ground
- Water 2–3x weekly during establishment
- Very drought tolerant once rooted
✂️ Pruning
- Maintain 5–7 ft for easier harvest
- Use pruned canes for propagation
- Remove lower foliage for airflow
🌱 Propagation & Production — Multiply Your Crop Year After Year
Cuban cassava is exceptionally easy to propagate.
✔️ How to Take Cuttings (“Stakes”)
Choose mature stems (8–12 months old):
- 6–10 inches long
- Diameter of a thumb or more
- 3–6 nodes
- Firm, healthy wood
Nodes = raised rings where new shoots & roots form.
🌿 Method 1: Upright Planting
- Insert vertically
- Bury 1–2 nodes
- Keep correct orientation (nodes angle slightly upward)
- Water for 2–3 weeks as roots form
Best for:
- Production rows
- Food forests
- Most Florida soils
🌿 Method 2: Horizontal Planting
- Place cutting flat, 2–3 inches deep
- Cover lightly
- Water well
Benefits:
- Multiple sprouting points
- Increased drought resilience
🌱 Production Potential
Year 1: One plant → several stems
Year 2: Several stems → dozens of new plants
Year 3: Dozens → hundreds
Cassava is a regenerative staple crop, ideal for long-term food security.
❄️ Winter Care
- Mulch heavily
- Expect top dieback in frost
- Roots resprout in spring
🌿 Troubleshooting (Using GreenDreams Emoji Legend)
(Reference: )
| ⚠️ Issue | 🧠 Cause | 🌿 Solution |
|---|---|---|
| 🍂 Yellowing | Aging or drought | 💧 Deep watering |
| 🫣 Curling | Heat or dryness | 💦 Increase water temporarily |
| 🍄 Root rot | Overwatering | 🪣 Improve drainage |
| 🐛 Pests | Mealybugs, mites | ❄️ Neem or soap spray |
| ❄️ Frost | Cold snap | 🪵 Mulch & allow regrowth |
❓ FAQ — Cuban Cassava
Q: Does it need cooking?
❌ Yes. Always peel & cook.
Q: How is it different from CMC40?
- Cuban: firmer texture, superior for boiling
- CMC40: sweeter, softer, great for fries & baking
Q: Does it grow wider?
Yes — more lateral branching.
Q: Is it good for propagation?
Excellent — yields thick, straight canes.
🚚 Shipping Details
- Best shipped to FL, Southeast, and Texas
- Can ship nationwide, but cosmetic stress is possible
- Ships via UPS Ground every Monday
- Buyer discretion advised during extreme temperatures
🏡 Local Pickup — GreenDreams Nursery & Farm
📍 18709 US Hwy. 41, Spring Hill, FL
🕘 Tues–Fri 9–5 | Sat 8–3
🌿 Beyond the Plant: GreenDreams Services
We offer:
- Edible landscape design
- Expert consultations
- Installation & project management
- Bulk compost, mulch & soil delivery
- Regenerative land planning
Let us help you build a thriving edible ecosystem.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION BEFORE PURCHASING LIVE PLANTS:
*Please be advised that our online store selections are NOT available for pickup at our retail location in Spring Hill, Florida.
Inventory for our online store is located at a separate facility and are priced and handled exclusively for packaging & shipping.
Click here to learn more about our Spring Hill, FL retail nursery location, including countless more nursery selections ready for pickup - larger sizes and wider variety of plants not suitable for nationwide delivery.
1. Shipping Stress: Transportation can be stressful for plants, particularly when they spend several days in a confined, dark environment. It’s common for plants to experience leaf drop during this period. Rest assured, most plants typically recover quickly and thrive with minimal aftercare. However, some may need extra attention, love, and care, requiring appropriate watering and exposure to gentle light post-unboxing.
2. Potential Physical Damage: Despite our dedicated efforts to ensure that your plants are securely packaged, they may incur damage during shipping and handling by UPS. Rest assured, our shipping team is committed to packing your selections with utmost care and precision to minimize any potential harm.
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For significant box damage, please reach out to UPS within 30 days to initiate a claim.
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For minor damages, such as a broken branch or stem, we advise allowing the plant time to recover and regenerate with proper care and attention.
3. Long-Distance Shipping Considerations: Orders shipped over long distances, particularly to the western US, may take 3 - 5 business days to arrive due to various factors, including agricultural inspections in Arizona, California, and Texas. Such extended transit times can be particularly challenging for tender, young plants, affecting their quality due to prolonged confinement.
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We take additional measures during packaging to facilitate a swift recovery of the plants upon unboxing.
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Initial extra care and attention might be required over the first few weeks post-transport.
For further guidance, kindly review our detailed policies on returns and refunds, as well as our comprehensive plant care guide. We appreciate your understanding and patience in nurturing your new plants.
🌿 Important Shipping Information
Please take a moment to review our shipping protocols designed to ensure your plants arrive in optimal condition.
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Countdown Clock: At the top of our online store, you'll notice a countdown clock. This tool helps communicate our weekly shipping schedule, providing clarity on when you can expect your orders to be dispatched.
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Shipping Schedule: Our nursery, located in the heart of Central Florida, ships orders once weekly, every Monday. This is a strategic decision to prevent packages from being stationary over the weekends, ensuring that our plants travel as swiftly as possible across the country, even reaching as far as California.
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Shipping Method: At present, we offer ground shipping rates to meet various needs while maintaining the well-being of our plants during transit.
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Our Dedicated Team: We are a boutique nursery with a passionate team. Our members wear many hats, contributing to shipping, nursery operations, and engaging in valuable local projects. As we blossom and expand, rest assured that enhancing and streamlining our processes remains a priority to serve you better
Terms and Conditions for Purchasing Live Plants
1. Understanding of Shipping Stress
By purchasing live plants from our store, the customer acknowledges that transportation can be stressful for plants. It is common for plants to undergo leaf drop or experience other temporary issues during shipping. However, it is understood that most plants recover quickly with adequate care and attention post-shipping.
2. Awareness of Potential Physical Damage
Customers acknowledge that despite our best efforts in packaging, there may be occurrences of damage during shipping and handling. For substantial damages to the package, customers agree to contact UPS within 30 days to initiate a claim.
3. Acknowledgement of Long-Distance Shipping Considerations
Customers recognize that shipments, especially those directed to the western US, may be subjected to longer shipping durations of 3-5 business days. Customers agree to provide necessary care to the plants, recognizing that the quality of the plants may be affected due to prolonged shipping times.
4. Agreement with Shipping Information and Schedule
Customers, by making a purchase, have reviewed and agreed upon our shipping protocols and schedules. They acknowledge the presence of a countdown clock on the website and our once-weekly shipping policy every Monday, recognizing the rationale behind avoiding weekend layovers for the plants.
5.Extreme Weather Conditions
Customers acknowledge that our store is not responsible for damage or loss of live plants due to extreme weather conditions during transit and delivery. This includes exposure to cold or freezing temperatures during the winter months and extreme heat during the summer. We provide tracking information when orders are processed every Monday to ensure customers are aware of the delivery schedule. It is the customer's responsibility to prevent packages from being left outside in conditions that may cause damage. Our store does not accept responsibility for any adverse effects caused by weather conditions beyond our control.
6. No Refund Policy
Customers agree that refunds are only processed under exceptional circumstances. Our store will not be held responsible for poor plant choices relative to location suitability, extreme conditions during and/or post-shipment, and improper post-purchase plant care.
7. Responsibility of Care
Upon purchase, customers agree to assume full responsibility for the ongoing care of the plants. This includes, but is not limited to, appropriate watering, exposure to suitable light, and adherence to specific care instructions pertinent to each plant type.
8. Consent
By proceeding with this purchase, customers consent to all the terms and conditions stated above, confirming understanding and agreement to all stipulations mentioned.
These terms and conditions aim to ensure clarity, mutual understanding, and agreement between the seller and the customer to facilitate a smooth transaction and foster a positive customer experience.
