Conditional — Some Areas
sourwood (zones 6-12) has limited zone overlap with Arkansas (6b-8a). Only zones 6-8 in the state are suitable.
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 sourwood against your parcel's actual hardiness, soil, and sun.
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Zone Comparison
Sourwood Needs
- USDA Zones: 6-12
- Soil pH: 4 - 6.5
- Sun: Shade
- Frost-Free Days: 150+
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 6-12)
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 Sourwood 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 hardiness
Sourwood is cold-hardy to -13°F (USDA PLANTS Database), so you can plant on the early side of Arkansas's window — even a few weeks before the final frost date.
Establishment timing
As a long-lived plant, sourwood 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
Sourwood wants 150+ frost-free days; a typical Arkansas site sees ~220 (NOAA Climate Normals). That leaves comfortable headroom for succession planting.
Chill hours
Sourwood requires ~600 chill hours (32-45°F dormancy window). Arkansas typically banks ~900 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
Sourwood likes near-neutral soil (pH 4-6.5). That's the common-ground band across Arkansas's silt loam and sandy loam — a soil test confirms it for your site.
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.
Sourwood in Arkansas — Quick Answer
- Verdict: Conditional — Some Areas
- Plant Zones: 6-12 (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)
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.
Pollinator + Wildlife Value
Sourwood draws pollinators (high value, USDA PLANTS Database). Planting it near vegetable beds can lift fruit set on neighboring crops.
Arkansas Cooperative Extension
For Arkansas-specific cultivar recommendations, planting calendars, and pest pressure for sourwood, 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 Sourwood native to Arkansas?
Yes — the USDA PLANTS Database (accessed 2026-07-01) documents Sourwood 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 Sourwood in Arkansas
When can I plant Sourwood 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). Sourwood 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 Sourwood grown in across Arkansas?
Arkansas spans USDA hardiness zones 6b-8a (USDA ARS PHZM 2023). Sourwood carries a range of zones 6-12, 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). Sourwood needs 150+ frost-free days, so check whether your local microclimate runs above or below the state average before settling on a planting date.
Is Sourwood native to Arkansas?
Yes — the USDA PLANTS Database (accessed 2026-07-01) documents Sourwood as native to Arkansas. Planting it supports the pollinators and wildlife that evolved alongside it.
How should I amend the soil for Sourwood in Arkansas?
Sourwood prefers pH 4-6.5 (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 Sourwood actually grow on my specific land in Arkansas?
State-level zone + climate data is a sketch. A Growable Ground parcel report scores sourwood 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 sourwood 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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