Camphor Tree is grown for its foliage and the structure it brings to a planting. It's hardy across USDA zones 9 through 11. Its spring flowers are a modest draw for honeybees. It roots deep, which helps it reach moisture in a dry spell and open up tight soil as it establishes.
Zones
9-11
pH Range
4.3-8
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
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Score Camphor Tree on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether camphor tree actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score camphor tree against your land's real conditions.
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What Camphor Tree is
Camphor Tree grows as a perennial. It blooms in spring.
How to grow Camphor Tree
Camphor Tree grows in USDA zones 9 through 11. Camphor Tree does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 4.3 to 8, on well-drained ground. It needs a growing season of at least 270 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
9-11
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
4.3 - 8
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
53.6°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
270+
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant camphor tree in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Camphor Tree prefers pH 4.3 to 8 (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. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Keep it in good form
Prune camphor tree to shape as it grows; the reward is its foliage and structure, not a harvest, so steady upkeep is the whole job.
Good to know
One caution for pet owners — camphor tree is toxic to dogs and cats (moderate severity). Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: ASPCA.)
Camphor Tree offers low value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Camphor Tree thrives
Camphor Tree is hardy across USDA zones 9 through 11. 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 9–11·Where Camphor Tree growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Camphor Tree can grow in these states:
See if Camphor Tree will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether camphor tree 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 Camphor Tree in my zone?
Camphor Tree grows in USDA hardiness zones 9 through 11 (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 Camphor Tree?
Most growers plant camphor tree after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 270-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Camphor Tree need?
Camphor Tree needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Camphor Tree need?
Camphor Tree prefers soil pH 4.3 to 8, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Camphor Tree attract pollinators?
Yes — camphor tree's flowers are a modest nectar source for honeybees (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Camphor Tree safe for pets?
Camphor Tree is toxic to pets (dogs,cats) with moderate severity. Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency.