Conditional — Some Areas
black cherry (zones 3-9) has limited zone overlap with Missouri (5b-7a). Only zones 5-7 in the state are suitable.
Zone Comparison
Black Cherry Needs
- USDA Zones: 3-9
- Soil pH: 4.5 - 7.5
- Sun: Full Sun
- Drainage: well (dry spells)
- Frost-Free Days: 240+
Missouri Has
- USDA Zones: 5b-7a
- Last Frost: Apr 5 - Apr 25
- First Frost: Oct 5 - Oct 30
- Annual Rainfall: 34-50 inches
- Common Soils: Silt loam, Clay loam, Loess
Plant Zone Range (zones 3-9)
Preferred Soil pH
Plant data: USDA PLANTS Database / plant_species_v5.csv. State data: USDA ARS PHZM 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NRCS SSURGO.
Growing Season Fit
Zone compatibility says you can survive winter here. Whether the growing season is long enough — and warm enough — is a different question.
Frost-free days
Black Cherry wants 240+ frost-free days; a typical Missouri site sees ~190 (NOAA Climate Normals). That leaves tight; use transplants and pick early-maturing cultivars.
Chill hours
Black Cherry requires ~800 chill hours (32-45°F dormancy window). Missouri typically banks ~1050 chill hours per winter (MSU Extension method), which keeps this plant on track.
Climate aggregates derive from USDA NRCS county-level hardiness data + Cornell CALS Extension GDD-by-region tables + MSU Extension chill-hours-by-zone (1991-2020 NOAA Climate Normals baseline).
Soil + Drainage Fit
Black Cherry likes near-neutral soil (pH 4.5-7.5). That's the common-ground band across Missouri's silt loam and clay loam — a soil test confirms it for your site. Drainage matters: this plant wants well (dry spells). If your Missouri site is heavier clay or sits in a low spot, raised beds or amendment with compost solve it.
Plant pH and drainage requirements from USDA PLANTS Database. Missouri soil profile from USDA NRCS SSURGO. Site-specific verification: a 30-minute soil test from your local Extension lab.
Black Cherry in Missouri — Quick Answer
- Verdict: Conditional — Some Areas
- Plant Zones: 3-9 (USDA PLANTS Database)
- State Zones: 5b-7a (USDA ARS PHZM 2023)
- Growing Season: Apr 5 - Apr 25 to Oct 5 - Oct 30 (NOAA Climate Normals)
What Else to Consider
Zone compatibility tells you about winter cold survival — but Missouri growers also need to think about:
Highly variable weather with late frosts and early heat
Heavy clay soils in many regions
Ozark soils are thin and rocky
Pollinator + Wildlife Value
Black Cherry draws pollinators (high value, USDA PLANTS Database). Planting it near vegetable beds can lift fruit set on neighboring crops. Deer pressure is meaningful across much of Missouri; black cherry is listed as deer-resistant (USDA PLANTS Database), which makes it a safer pick for unfenced sites.
Missouri Cooperative Extension
For Missouri-specific cultivar recommendations, planting calendars, and pest pressure for black cherry, the canonical source is MU Extension. Their fact sheets carry the local trial data we can't generalize across 50 states.
Check your specific parcel in Missouri
State-level data is a sketch. Your Growable Ground report scores black cherry against your parcel's exact soil, sun, drainage, and frost data — not zone averages.
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