Black Gum is a tree, a long-term addition to the landscape. It's hardy across USDA zones 6 through 12. Its late spring flowers are a real draw for honeybees and native bees.
Zones
6-12
pH Range
4.5-6
Sun
Shade
Days to Maturity
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Score Black Gum on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether black gum actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score black gum against your land's real conditions.
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What Black Gum is
Black Gum grows as a perennial and reaches around 50 feet at maturity. It blooms green in late spring.
How to grow Black Gum
Black Gum grows in USDA zones 6 through 12. Black Gum does best in shade — at least 2 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 4.5 to 6. It needs a growing season of at least 140 frost-free days and about 800 hours of winter chill, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
6-12
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
4.5 - 6
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Shade
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
Data pending
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
-18°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
50 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Chill Hours
800+
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
140+
plant_species_v5.csv
Plant it right
Set black gum in shade with well-drained soil. Many fruit trees need a second variety nearby to pollinate — check before you plant just one.
Match the soil
Black Gum prefers pH 4.5 to 6 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. Match watering to the plant's drainage preference and your local rainfall.
Be patient, then harvest
Prune annually while the tree establishes; fruit trees reward patience with years of harvest. Local Extension guides publish per-cultivar bearing-age tables.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — black gum isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Black Gum is a standout pollinator plant — high value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Black Gum thrives
Black Gum is hardy across USDA zones 6 through 12. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 6–12·Where Black Gum growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Black Gum can grow in these states:
See if Black Gum will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether black gum actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Black Gum in my zone?
Black Gum grows in USDA hardiness zones 6 through 12 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Black Gum?
Set black gum out in early spring or fall while it's dormant, so the roots establish before the heat of summer. Your local last-frost date — which a Growable Ground report pulls for your exact address — sets the precise window.
How much sun does Black Gum need?
Black Gum is shade-tolerant — it gets by on as little as 2 hours of direct sun, so it earns a place most vegetables can't use. A north-facing strip or the ground under a leafy canopy is right where it belongs. A Growable Ground report shows which corners of your land stay shaded through the day, turning those dim spots into planting spots.
What soil does Black Gum need?
Black Gum prefers soil pH 4.5 to 6 (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Black Gum attract pollinators?
Yes — black gum's flowers are a strong nectar and pollen source for honeybees and native bees (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Black Gum safe for pets?
Black Gum is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.