Conditional — Some Areas
hickory (zones 4-8) has limited zone overlap with North Dakota (3a-4b). Only zones 4-4 in the state are suitable.
Your yard isn't the whole zone.
North Dakota spans zones 3a-4b, 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+
North Dakota Has
- USDA Zones: 3a-4b
- Last Frost: May 5 - Jun 1
- First Frost: Sep 10 - Oct 1
- Annual Rainfall: 14-22 inches
- Common Soils: Prairie loam, Clay (Red River Valley), Sandy loam
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 North Dakota
The frost window
Across North Dakota, the last spring frost clears between May 5 and Jun 1, and the first fall frost lands between Sep 10 and Oct 1 (NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020). Counting from the latest last frost to the earliest first frost, that's a 101-day window you can count on — up to 149 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 North Dakota site sees ~130 (NOAA Climate Normals). That leaves tight; use transplants and pick early-maturing cultivars.
Growing degree days
Hickory needs ~2500 GDD (base 50°F) to ripen. The state median runs ~2250 GDD (USDA NRCS county aggregates), so North Dakota's typical season runs short on heat — pick a south-facing site and consider season extension.
Chill hours
Hickory requires ~1000 chill hours (32-45°F dormancy window). North Dakota typically banks ~1950 chill hours per winter (MSU Extension method), which keeps this plant on track.
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 North Dakota's prairie loam and clay (red river valley) — a soil test confirms it for your site. Drainage matters: this plant wants well (dry spells). If your North Dakota 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. North Dakota soil profile from USDA NRCS SSURGO. Site-specific verification: a 30-minute soil test from your local Extension lab.
Hickory in North Dakota — Quick Answer
- Verdict: Conditional — Some Areas
- Plant Zones: 4-8 (USDA PLANTS Database)
- State Zones: 3a-4b (USDA ARS PHZM 2023)
- Growing Season: May 5 - Jun 1 to Sep 10 - Oct 1 (NOAA Climate Normals)
- Days to Maturity: 3650 days
What Else to Consider
Zone compatibility tells you about winter cold survival — but North Dakota growers also need to think about:
Extreme cold (-40F) and short growing season
Cold-proven varieties plus a high tunnel make North Dakota's short season dependable — northern growers' standard kit.
Persistent wind desiccates plants
A windbreak is the highest-return structure on the northern plains — even a snow fence changes what survives.
Low rainfall in western ND
Out west, drip irrigation and mulch decide the season — set the water system up front.
North Dakota Cooperative Extension
For North Dakota-specific cultivar recommendations, planting calendars, and pest pressure for hickory, the canonical source is NDSU Extension. Their fact sheets carry the local trial data we can't generalize across 50 states.
Is Hickory native to North Dakota?
Yes — the USDA PLANTS Database (accessed 2026-07-01) documents Hickory as native to North Dakota. 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 North Dakota
When can I plant Hickory in North Dakota?
North Dakota's last spring frost clears between May 5 and Jun 1, and the first fall frost lands between Sep 10 and Oct 1 (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 North Dakota?
North Dakota spans USDA hardiness zones 3a-4b (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 North Dakota site have?
A typical North Dakota site sees ~130 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 North Dakota?
Yes — the USDA PLANTS Database (accessed 2026-07-01) documents Hickory as native to North Dakota. Planting it supports the pollinators and wildlife that evolved alongside it.
How should I amend the soil for Hickory in North Dakota?
Hickory prefers pH 5-7.5 and well (dry spells) drainage (USDA PLANTS Database). That sits in the common-ground band across North Dakota 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 North Dakota?
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 North Dakota
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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