Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for Benton, AR

Benton, AR is in USDA zone 8a across its 4 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 24 and the first fall frost November 7.

Benton on the zone map

Outlined: its 2 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone8a10 to 15 °F
ZIP codes4
Last frostMar 24
First frostNov 7
Growing season229 days

8a 4 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Benton, AR…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Benton, AR

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 24median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 13only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 7median — 10% chance by Oct 26
Growing season229 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 9 and returns around November 18.

From the NOAA station Benton, AR, elevation 312 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in Benton

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 10 – Feb 24
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 10 – Mar 3
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 13 – Jan 27
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 3 – Mar 17
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 27 – Feb 10
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 31 – Apr 14
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 13 – Jan 27
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 7 – Apr 21
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 12 – Sep 26
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 24 – Nov 28
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 24) and first fall frost (Nov 7) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 72018 came on Feb 13 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 14).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 8a in Arkansas

516 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Arkansas, and rated by the USDA to survive 10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 71

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °Fbald cypress130 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −18 °Fbitternut hickory75 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −47 °F

Shrubs 98

alternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican beautyberry6 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °FAmerican hornbeam30 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −34 °FAmerican plum24 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 174

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican speedwell0.8 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 150

alkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican cupscale3 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −18 °Fautumn bluegrass1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °FBailey's sedge2.1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FBicknell's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbig bluestem6 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −46 °F

Vines 14

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican wisteria50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fcatbird grape30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −13 °Fcupseed30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Benton, AR.

Soil in Benton, AR

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 72018 is Saffell — gravelly fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureGravelly fine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Saffell-Urban land complex, 3 to 8 percent slopes.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 72018; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Benton, AR

Summer high93 °Faverage high, July
Winter low31 °Faverage low, January
Hot days74days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights64nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,499base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 28 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 50 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation53.4 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall1 inper year

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 53 °F, low 31 °F 53°31° JanFebruary: average high 57 °F, low 34 °F 57°34° FebMarch: average high 66 °F, low 41 °F 66°41° MarApril: average high 75 °F, low 50 °F 75°50° AprMay: average high 82 °F, low 60 °F 82°60° MayJune: average high 89 °F, low 69 °F 89°69° JunJuly: average high 93 °F, low 72 °F 93°72° JulAugust: average high 93 °F, low 71 °F 93°71° AugSeptember: average high 87 °F, low 63 °F 87°63° SepOctober: average high 76 °F, low 51 °F 76°51° OctNovember: average high 64 °F, low 40 °F 64°40° NovDecember: average high 55 °F, low 33 °F 55°33° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.84 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 3.8❄1 JanFebruary: 4.20 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 4.2 FebMarch: 5.05 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 5.0 MarApril: 5.63 in precipitation 5.6 AprMay: 5.22 in precipitation 5.2 MayJune: 3.94 in precipitation 3.9 JunJuly: 4.16 in precipitation 4.2 JulAugust: 3.52 in precipitation 3.5 AugSeptember: 3.80 in precipitation 3.8 SepOctober: 4.37 in precipitation 4.4 OctNovember: 4.77 in precipitation 4.8 NovDecember: 4.91 in precipitation 4.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Benton, AR (within 1 mile); precipitation: Benton, AR (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Benton

720158a
10 to 15 °F
720188a
10 to 15 °F
720198a
10 to 15 °F
721588a
10 to 15 °F

Arkansas planting zones →

Questions about Benton

What planting zone is Benton, AR?

Benton, AR is in USDA hardiness zone 8a on the 2023 map (8a: 10 to 15 °F).

When is the last frost in Benton, AR?

The median last spring frost is March 24 and the median first fall frost is November 7 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Benton station).

When can I plant a garden in Benton, AR?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 10 – Mar 3; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 31, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Benton, AR?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 28 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Benton, AR get?

About 53.4 inches of precipitation a year and 1 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).