Generally — Most Areas
hickory (zones 4-8) partially overlaps with Arkansas (6b-8a). It can grow in zones 6-8 within the state.
Your yard isn't the whole zone.
Arkansas spans zones 6b-8a, 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 hickory against your parcel's actual hardiness, soil, and sun.
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Zone Comparison
Hickory Needs
- USDA Zones: 4-8
- Soil pH: 5 - 7.5
- Sun: Full Sun
- Drainage: well (dry spells)
- Frost-Free Days: 140+
Arkansas Has
- USDA Zones: 6b-8a
- Last Frost: Mar 15 - Apr 15
- First Frost: Oct 15 - Nov 10
- Annual Rainfall: 44-56 inches
- Common Soils: Silt loam, Sandy loam, Red clay
Plant Zone Range (zones 4-8)
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 Hickory in Arkansas
The frost window
Across Arkansas, the last spring frost clears between Mar 15 and Apr 15, and the first fall frost lands between Oct 15 and Nov 10 (NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020). Counting from the latest last frost to the earliest first frost, that's a 183-day window you can count on — up to 240 days on a mild site in a kind year.
Frost tenderness
Hickory is frost-tender — its listed minimum temperature is 41°F (USDA PLANTS Database) — so set plants out after the last frost has cleared your local site, not the state's earliest date.
Establishment timing
As a long-lived plant, hickory 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
Hickory wants 140+ frost-free days; a typical Arkansas site sees ~220 (NOAA Climate Normals). That leaves comfortable headroom for succession planting.
Growing degree days
Hickory needs ~2500 GDD (base 50°F) to ripen. The state median runs ~4200 GDD (USDA NRCS county aggregates), so Arkansas's typical season clears that easily.
Chill hours
Hickory requires ~1000 chill hours (32-45°F dormancy window). Arkansas typically banks ~900 chill hours per winter, short of this plant's requirement — fruit set may suffer in mild years without a low-chill cultivar.
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
Hickory likes near-neutral soil (pH 5-7.5). That's the common-ground band across Arkansas's silt loam and sandy loam — a soil test confirms it for your site. Drainage matters: this plant wants well (dry spells). If your Arkansas site is heavier clay or sits in a low spot, raised beds or amendment with compost solve it.
Plant pH and drainage requirements from USDA PLANTS Database. Arkansas soil profile from USDA NRCS SSURGO. Site-specific verification: a 30-minute soil test from your local Extension lab.
Hickory in Arkansas — Quick Answer
- Verdict: Generally — Most Areas
- Plant Zones: 4-8 (USDA PLANTS Database)
- State Zones: 6b-8a (USDA ARS PHZM 2023)
- Growing Season: Mar 15 - Apr 15 to Oct 15 - Nov 10 (NOAA Climate Normals)
- Days to Maturity: 3650 days
What Else to Consider
Zone compatibility tells you about winter cold survival — but Arkansas growers also need to think about:
Hot, humid summers drive fungal and bacterial diseases
Morning base-watering, wide spacing, and resistant varieties keep disease manageable — your extension lists what holds up here.
Heavy clay soils in parts of the Ozarks
A raised bed gets you growing this season; compost worked in each fall opens the clay for the long run.
Severe spring storms and hail risk
Keep row cover staged through storm season — five minutes of shelter can save a bed of seedlings from hail.
Arkansas Cooperative Extension
For Arkansas-specific cultivar recommendations, planting calendars, and pest pressure for hickory, the canonical source is University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. Their fact sheets carry the local trial data we can't generalize across 50 states.
Is Hickory native to Arkansas?
Yes — the USDA PLANTS Database (accessed 2026-07-01) documents Hickory as native to Arkansas. 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 Hickory in Arkansas
When can I plant Hickory in Arkansas?
Arkansas's last spring frost clears between Mar 15 and Apr 15, and the first fall frost lands between Oct 15 and Nov 10 (NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020). Hickory 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 Hickory grown in across Arkansas?
Arkansas spans USDA hardiness zones 6b-8a (USDA ARS PHZM 2023). Hickory carries a range of zones 4-8, so the overlap zones are where outdoor growing is most reliable.
How many frost-free days does a typical Arkansas site have?
A typical Arkansas site sees ~220 frost-free days per year (derived from NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020). Hickory 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 Hickory native to Arkansas?
Yes — the USDA PLANTS Database (accessed 2026-07-01) documents Hickory as native to Arkansas. Planting it supports the pollinators and wildlife that evolved alongside it.
How should I amend the soil for Hickory in Arkansas?
Hickory prefers pH 5-7.5 and well (dry spells) drainage (USDA PLANTS Database). That sits in the common-ground band across Arkansas soils — a 30-minute soil test from a local Extension lab confirms it for your specific site.
Will Hickory actually grow on my specific land in Arkansas?
State-level zone + climate data is a sketch. A Growable Ground parcel report scores hickory 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 Arkansas
State-level data is a sketch. Your Growable Ground report scores hickory 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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