Hickory is a long-term planting — a young tree typically takes about ten years to bear its first real nuts, and then produces for years. It's hardy across USDA zones 4 through 8. It roots deep, which helps it reach moisture in a dry spell and open up tight soil as it establishes.
Zones
4-8
pH Range
5-7.5
Sun
Full Sun
To First Harvest
~10 yr
Score Hickory on your exact land.
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What Hickory is
Hickory grows as a perennial and reaches around 60 feet at maturity. It blooms green in spring.
How to grow Hickory
Hickory grows in USDA zones 4 through 8 and takes about ten years to begin bearing. Hickory does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5 to 7.5, on well-drained ground. It needs around 2,500 growing degree days to mature, a growing season of at least 140 frost-free days, and about 1000 hours of winter chill to set fruit, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
4-8
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5 - 7.5
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
41°F
plant_species_v5.csv
To First Harvest
~10 years
Shagbark hickory; native; seed needs cold strat 90-120d. ~10 yr from seedling; long-term native nut tree.
USDA-NRCS
GDD Required
2500+
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
60 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Chill Hours
1000+
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
140+
plant_species_v5.csv
Plant it right
Set hickory in full sun with well-drained soil. Many fruit trees need a second variety nearby to pollinate — check before you plant just one.
Match the soil
Hickory prefers pH 5 to 7.5 (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.
Be patient, then harvest
Hickory takes about ten years to its first meaningful harvest (USDA-NRCS). Prune annually while it establishes, and the tree will then crop for years.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — hickory isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Hickory isn't classified as a notable pollinator plant in our data — pair it with high-value bloomers nearby to feed bees.
Where Hickory thrives
Hickory is hardy across USDA zones 4 through 8. 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 4–8·Where Hickory growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Hickory can grow in these states:
See if Hickory will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether hickory 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 Hickory in my zone?
Hickory grows in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 8 (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 Hickory bears fruit?
Hickory typically takes about ten years after planting to bear its first real crop, then produces for years (USDA-NRCS). Soil, climate, and rootstock all shift the timeline.
When should you plant Hickory?
Set hickory 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 Hickory need?
Hickory 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 Hickory need?
Hickory prefers soil pH 5 to 7.5, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Hickory attract pollinators?
Hickory isn't classified as a notable pollinator plant in our data. Pairing it with high-value bloomers nearby keeps bees and butterflies fed.
Is Hickory safe for pets?
Hickory is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.