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

Planting zone for Forrest City, AR

Forrest City, AR is in USDA zone 8a across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 18 and the first fall frost November 11.

Forrest City on the zone map

Outlined: its 1 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 codes2
Last frostMar 18
First frostNov 11
Growing season238 days

8a 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Forrest City, 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 Forrest City, AR

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 18median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 5only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 11median — 10% chance by Oct 28
Growing season238 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 7 and returns around November 26.

From the NOAA station Marianna 2 S, AR, elevation 233 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 Forrest City

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 4 – Feb 25
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 7 – Jan 21
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 21 – Feb 4
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 25 – Apr 8
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 7 – Jan 21
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 1 – Apr 15
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 16 – Sep 30
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 28 – Dec 2
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 18) and first fall frost (Nov 11) 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 72336 came on Feb 14 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 20).

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 Forrest City, AR.

Soil in Forrest City, AR

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 72336 is Loring — silt loam, moderately well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.6moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Loring silt loam, 0 to 1 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 72336; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Forrest City, AR

Summer high92 °Faverage high, July
Winter low32 °Faverage low, January
Hot days64days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights60nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,507base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 31 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 48 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation51.8 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall2 inper year; 2 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 49 °F, low 32 °F 49°32° JanFebruary: average high 54 °F, low 34 °F 54°34° FebMarch: average high 63 °F, low 42 °F 63°42° MarApril: average high 73 °F, low 51 °F 73°51° AprMay: average high 82 °F, low 62 °F 82°62° MayJune: average high 90 °F, low 70 °F 90°70° JunJuly: average high 92 °F, low 73 °F 92°73° JulAugust: average high 91 °F, low 70 °F 91°70° AugSeptember: average high 86 °F, low 63 °F 86°63° SepOctober: average high 76 °F, low 52 °F 76°52° OctNovember: average high 62 °F, low 42 °F 62°42° NovDecember: average high 52 °F, low 35 °F 52°35° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.89 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 3.9 JanFebruary: 4.20 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 4.2❄1 FebMarch: 5.55 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 5.5❄1 MarApril: 5.63 in precipitation 5.6 AprMay: 5.35 in precipitation 5.3 MayJune: 4.19 in precipitation 4.2 JunJuly: 3.55 in precipitation 3.5 JulAugust: 2.93 in precipitation 2.9 AugSeptember: 2.93 in precipitation 2.9 SepOctober: 4.08 in precipitation 4.1 OctNovember: 4.38 in precipitation 4.4 NovDecember: 5.10 in precipitation 5.1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Wynne, AR (17 mi away); precipitation: Madison 1 Nw, AR (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Forrest City

723358a
10 to 15 °F
723368a
10 to 15 °F

Arkansas planting zones →

Questions about Forrest City

What planting zone is Forrest City, AR?

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

When is the last frost in Forrest City, AR?

The median last spring frost is March 18 and the median first fall frost is November 11 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Marianna 2 S station).

When can I plant a garden in Forrest City, AR?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 4 – Feb 25; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 25, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Forrest City, AR?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 31 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Forrest City, AR get?

About 51.8 inches of precipitation a year and 2 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).