Sugar cane is a warm-season crop and should be planted in the tropical and subtropical regions of our country. It will grow best in USDA hardiness zones 9 and 10 because it is very cold-sensitive. Sugar cane might look like bamboo, but it is a member of the grass family. Its use dates back 2,500 years in China and India and was introduced to the United States around the time of the early colonials. When growing sugar cane, give it room because it can reach a height of 12 feet.