Clove is a tree that takes about one year to establish — a planting measured in decades, not seasons. It's hardy across USDA zones 11 through 12 and stands up to deer. Its summer flowers are a moderate draw for honeybees, even though the harvest is the prize. It roots deep, which helps it reach moisture in a dry spell and open up tight soil as it establishes.
Zones
11-12
pH Range
4.5-8
Sun
Full Sun
To First Harvest
~1 yr
Score Clove on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether clove actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score clove against your land's real conditions.
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What Clove is
Clove grows as a perennial and reaches around 35 feet at maturity. It blooms in summer. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Clove
Clove grows in USDA zones 11 through 12 and takes about one year to begin bearing. Clove does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 4.5 to 8, on evenly moist to well-drained ground. It needs around 5,500 growing degree days to mature and a growing season of at least 150 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
11-12
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
4.5 - 8
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
poorly (saturated >50% of year), well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
53.6°F
plant_species_v5.csv
To First Harvest
~1 year
plant_species_v5.csv
GDD Required
5500+
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
35 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
150+
plant_species_v5.csv
Plant it right
Set clove in full sun with evenly moist to well-drained soil. Many fruit trees need a second variety nearby to pollinate — check before you plant just one.
Match the soil
Clove prefers pH 4.5 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.
Be patient, then harvest
Clove takes about one year to its first meaningful harvest (University Extension production guides). Prune annually while it establishes, and the tree will then crop for years.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — clove isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Clove offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Clove thrives
Clove is hardy across USDA zones 11 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 11–12·Where Clove growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Clove can grow in these states:
See if Clove will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether clove 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 Clove in my zone?
Clove grows in USDA hardiness zones 11 through 12 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
How long until Clove bears fruit?
Clove typically takes about one year after planting to bear its first real crop, then produces for years (University Extension production guides). Soil, climate, and rootstock all shift the timeline.
When should you plant Clove?
Set clove 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 Clove need?
Clove 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 Clove need?
Clove prefers soil pH 4.5 to 8, on evenly moist to well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Clove attract pollinators?
Yes — clove's flowers are a solid nectar source for honeybees (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Clove safe for pets?
Clove is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.