Conditional — Some Areas
black gum (zones 6-12) has limited zone overlap with Kansas (5b-7a). Only zones 6-7 in the state are suitable.
Your yard isn't the whole zone.
Kansas spans zones 5b-7a, 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 black gum against your parcel's actual hardiness, soil, and sun.
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Zone Comparison
Black Gum Needs
- USDA Zones: 6-12
- Soil pH: 4.5 - 6
- Sun: Shade
- Frost-Free Days: 140+
Kansas Has
- USDA Zones: 5b-7a
- Last Frost: Apr 5 - May 1
- First Frost: Oct 5 - Oct 30
- Annual Rainfall: 16-42 inches
- Common Soils: Prairie loam, Silt loam, Clay
Plant Zone Range (zones 6-12)
Preferred Soil pH
Plant data: USDA PLANTS Database / plant_species_v5.csv. State data: USDA ARS PHZM 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NRCS SSURGO.
When to Plant Black Gum in Kansas
The frost window
Across Kansas, the last spring frost clears between Apr 5 and May 1, and the first fall frost lands between Oct 5 and Oct 30 (NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020). Counting from the latest last frost to the earliest first frost, that's a 157-day window you can count on — up to 208 days on a mild site in a kind year.
Frost hardiness
Black Gum is cold-hardy to -18°F (USDA PLANTS Database), so you can plant on the early side of Kansas's window — even a few weeks before the final frost date.
Establishment timing
As a long-lived plant, black gum isn't racing the calendar to a harvest date. Plant it in spring once the last-frost window passes so roots settle in through the full season, or in early fall while the soil still holds summer warmth.
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
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 Gum wants 140+ frost-free days; a typical Kansas site sees ~190 (NOAA Climate Normals). That leaves a workable window — start indoors to bank time.
Chill hours
Black Gum requires ~800 chill hours (32-45°F dormancy window). Kansas 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 Gum likes near-neutral soil (pH 4.5-6). That's the common-ground band across Kansas's prairie loam and silt loam — a soil test confirms it for your site.
Plant pH and drainage requirements from USDA PLANTS Database. Kansas soil profile from USDA NRCS SSURGO. Site-specific verification: a 30-minute soil test from your local Extension lab.
Black Gum in Kansas — Quick Answer
- Verdict: Conditional — Some Areas
- Plant Zones: 6-12 (USDA PLANTS Database)
- State Zones: 5b-7a (USDA ARS PHZM 2023)
- Growing Season: Apr 5 - May 1 to Oct 5 - Oct 30 (NOAA Climate Normals)
What Else to Consider
Zone compatibility tells you about winter cold survival — but Kansas growers also need to think about:
Low rainfall in western KS requires irrigation
Out west, drip lines and heavy mulch are the growing season — design the water before the beds.
Extreme wind and hail during severe storm season
Stage row cover for hail season and give young plants a windbreak — quick shelter saves seasons.
Hot dry summers with 100F+ days
Lean on the spring and fall windows, shade the summer survivors, and water deep and early in the day.
Pollinator + Wildlife Value
Black Gum draws pollinators (high value, USDA PLANTS Database). Planting it near vegetable beds can lift fruit set on neighboring crops.
Kansas Cooperative Extension
For Kansas-specific cultivar recommendations, planting calendars, and pest pressure for black gum, the canonical source is K-State Research and Extension. Their fact sheets carry the local trial data we can't generalize across 50 states.
Is Black Gum native to Kansas?
Yes — the USDA PLANTS Database (accessed 2026-07-01) documents Black Gum as native to Kansas. Planting it supports the pollinators and wildlife that evolved alongside it.
Native-range data: USDA PLANTS Database state-distribution records, accessed 2026-07-01.
Common Questions About Growing Black Gum in Kansas
When can I plant Black Gum in Kansas?
Kansas's last spring frost clears between Apr 5 and May 1, and the first fall frost lands between Oct 5 and Oct 30 (NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020). Black Gum is a long-lived planting, so target spring just after your local last frost — or early fall while the soil holds warmth — and let it establish through the season.
What hardiness zone is Black Gum grown in across Kansas?
Kansas spans USDA hardiness zones 5b-7a (USDA ARS PHZM 2023). Black Gum carries a range of zones 6-12, so the overlap zones are where outdoor growing is most reliable.
How many frost-free days does a typical Kansas site have?
A typical Kansas site sees ~190 frost-free days per year (derived from NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020). Black Gum needs 140+ frost-free days, so check whether your local microclimate runs above or below the state average before settling on a planting date.
Is Black Gum native to Kansas?
Yes — the USDA PLANTS Database (accessed 2026-07-01) documents Black Gum as native to Kansas. Planting it supports the pollinators and wildlife that evolved alongside it.
How should I amend the soil for Black Gum in Kansas?
Black Gum prefers pH 4.5-6 (USDA PLANTS Database). That sits in the common-ground band across Kansas soils — a 30-minute soil test from a local Extension lab confirms it for your specific site.
Will Black Gum actually grow on my specific land in Kansas?
State-level zone + climate data is a sketch. A Growable Ground parcel report scores black gum 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 Kansas
State-level data is a sketch. Your Growable Ground report scores black gum against your parcel's exact soil, sun, drainage, and frost data — not zone averages.
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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