Cotton is an annual or perennial grown for its blooms, which open in spring and return year after year. It's hardy across USDA zones 8 through 11 and shrugs off deer. Its spring flowers are a moderate draw for honeybees and native bees. It roots deep, which helps it reach moisture in a dry spell and open up tight soil as it establishes.
Zones
8-11
pH Range
5-8.5
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
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Score Cotton on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether cotton actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score cotton against your land's real conditions.
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What Cotton is
Cotton grows as an annual or perennial and reaches around six feet at maturity. It blooms in spring. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Cotton
Cotton grows in USDA zones 8 through 11. Cotton does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5 to 8.5, on well-drained ground. It needs a growing season of at least 180 frost-free days and about 0 hours of winter chill, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
8-11
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5 - 8.5
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
59°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
6 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Chill Hours
0+
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
180+
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant cotton in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Cotton prefers pH 5 to 8.5 (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.
Harvest at its peak
Cut cotton blooms in the cool of the morning, just as they open, for the longest display.
Good to know
One caution for pet owners — cotton 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.)
Cotton offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Cotton thrives
Cotton is hardy across USDA zones 8 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 8–11·Where Cotton growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Cotton can grow in these states:
See if Cotton will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether cotton 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 Cotton in my zone?
Cotton grows in USDA hardiness zones 8 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 Cotton?
Most growers plant cotton after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 180-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 Cotton need?
Cotton 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 Cotton need?
Cotton prefers soil pH 5 to 8.5, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Cotton attract pollinators?
Yes — cotton's flowers are a solid nectar source for honeybees and native bees (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Cotton safe for pets?
Cotton 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.