Sweetgum is a tree, a long-term addition to the landscape. It's hardy across USDA zones 5 through 9 and shrugs off deer. It roots deep, which helps it reach moisture in a dry spell and open up tight soil as it establishes.
Zones
5-9
pH Range
4.5-8.5
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
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Score Sweetgum on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether sweetgum actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score sweetgum against your land's real conditions.
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What Sweetgum is
Sweetgum grows as a perennial and reaches around 100 feet at maturity. It blooms green in mid spring. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Sweetgum
Sweetgum grows in USDA zones 5 through 9. Sweetgum does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 4.5 to 8.5, on well-drained ground. It needs a growing season of at least 180 frost-free days and about 400 hours of winter chill, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
5-9
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
4.5 - 8.5
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
Mature Height
100 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Chill Hours
400+
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
180+
plant_species_v5.csv
Plant it right
Set sweetgum 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
Sweetgum prefers pH 4.5 to 8.5 (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 — sweetgum isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Sweetgum isn't classified as a notable pollinator plant in our data — pair it with high-value bloomers nearby to feed bees.
Where Sweetgum thrives
Sweetgum is hardy across USDA zones 5 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 5–9·Where Sweetgum growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Sweetgum can grow in these states:
See if Sweetgum will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether sweetgum 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 Sweetgum in my zone?
Sweetgum grows in USDA hardiness zones 5 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 Sweetgum?
Set sweetgum 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 Sweetgum need?
Sweetgum 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 Sweetgum need?
Sweetgum prefers soil pH 4.5 to 8.5, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Sweetgum attract pollinators?
Sweetgum isn't classified as a notable pollinator plant in our data. Pairing it with high-value bloomers nearby keeps bees and butterflies fed.
Is Sweetgum safe for pets?
Sweetgum is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.