Hophornbeam is a tree, a long-term addition to the landscape. It's hardy across USDA zones 3 through 9, shrugs off deer and shrugs off dry spells.
Zones
3-9
pH Range
5.5-7.5
Sun
Part Sun
Days to Maturity
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Score Hophornbeam on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether hophornbeam actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score hophornbeam against your land's real conditions.
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What Hophornbeam is
Hophornbeam grows as a perennial and reaches around 35 feet at maturity. It blooms green in spring. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Hophornbeam
Hophornbeam grows in USDA zones 3 through 9. Hophornbeam does best in part sun — at least 4 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5.5 to 7.5, on well-drained ground. It needs a growing season of at least 120 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
3-9
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5.5 - 7.5
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Part Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
35 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
120+
plant_species_v5.csv
Plant it right
Set hophornbeam in part sun with well-drained soil. Many fruit trees need a second variety nearby to pollinate — check before you plant just one.
Match the soil
Hophornbeam prefers pH 5.5 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
Prune annually while the tree establishes; fruit trees reward patience with years of harvest. Local Extension guides publish per-cultivar bearing-age tables.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — hophornbeam isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Hophornbeam isn't classified as a notable pollinator plant in our data — pair it with high-value bloomers nearby to feed bees.
Where Hophornbeam thrives
Hophornbeam is hardy across USDA zones 3 through 9. 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 3–9·Where Hophornbeam growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Hophornbeam can grow in these states:
See if Hophornbeam will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether hophornbeam 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 Hophornbeam in my zone?
Hophornbeam grows in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 9 (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 Hophornbeam?
Set hophornbeam 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 Hophornbeam need?
Hophornbeam does well in partial sun — around 4 hours of direct sun, and it takes some afternoon shade in stride. That flexibility makes it a good match for a bed the house or a nearby tree shades for part of the day. A Growable Ground report maps how the sun actually falls on your land, hour by hour, so you can set it where the light lines up.
What soil does Hophornbeam need?
Hophornbeam prefers soil pH 5.5 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 Hophornbeam attract pollinators?
Hophornbeam isn't classified as a notable pollinator plant in our data. Pairing it with high-value bloomers nearby keeps bees and butterflies fed.
Is Hophornbeam safe for pets?
Hophornbeam is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.