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

Planting zone for Hot Springs National Park, AR

Hot Springs National Park, AR is in USDA zone 8a across its 5 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 19 and the first fall frost November 13.

Hot Springs National Park 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 codes5
Last frostMar 19
First frostNov 13
Growing season239 days

8a 5 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Hot Springs National Park, 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 Hot Springs National Park, AR

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 19median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 7only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 13median — 10% chance by Oct 28
Growing season239 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 6 and returns around November 27.

From the NOAA station Hot Springs 1 Nne, AR, elevation 627 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 Hot Springs National Park

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 5 – Feb 26
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 8 – Jan 22
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 26 – Mar 12
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 22 – Feb 5
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 26 – Apr 9
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 8 – Jan 22
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 2 – Apr 16
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 18 – Oct 2
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 30 – Dec 4
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 19) and first fall frost (Nov 13) 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 71901 came on Feb 13 — 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 16).

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 Hot Springs National Park, AR.

Soil in Hot Springs National Park, AR

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 71901 is Yanush — very gravelly silt loam, well drained.

TextureVery gravelly silt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Yanush-Avant complex, 40 to 60 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 71901; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Hot Springs National Park, AR

Summer high93 °Faverage high, July
Winter low32 °Faverage low, January
Hot days77days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights59nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,504base 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
Precipitation58 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall1 inper year; 1 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 52 °F, low 32 °F 52°32° JanFebruary: average high 56 °F, low 35 °F 56°35° FebMarch: average high 65 °F, low 42 °F 65°42° MarApril: average high 74 °F, low 51 °F 74°51° AprMay: average high 80 °F, low 60 °F 80°60° MayJune: average high 88 °F, low 68 °F 88°68° JunJuly: average high 93 °F, low 72 °F 93°72° JulAugust: average high 93 °F, low 71 °F 93°71° AugSeptember: average high 86 °F, low 64 °F 86°64° SepOctober: average high 75 °F, low 52 °F 75°52° OctNovember: average high 63 °F, low 42 °F 63°42° NovDecember: average high 53 °F, low 35 °F 53°35° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″2″4″6″January: 3.76 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 3.8❄1 JanFebruary: 4.64 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 4.6 FebMarch: 5.53 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 5.5 MarApril: 5.86 in precipitation 5.9 AprMay: 6.51 in precipitation 6.5 MayJune: 4.33 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 4.52 in precipitation 4.5 JulAugust: 3.60 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 4.18 in precipitation 4.2 SepOctober: 5.10 in precipitation 5.1 OctNovember: 4.94 in precipitation 4.9 NovDecember: 4.99 in precipitation 5.0 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Hot Springs 1 Nne, AR (4 mi away); precipitation: Hot Springs 1 Nne, AR (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Hot Springs National Park

719018a
10 to 15 °F
719028a
10 to 15 °F
719038a
10 to 15 °F
719138a
10 to 15 °F
719148a
10 to 15 °F

Arkansas planting zones →

Questions about Hot Springs National Park

What planting zone is Hot Springs National Park, AR?

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

When is the last frost in Hot Springs National Park, AR?

The median last spring frost is March 19 and the median first fall frost is November 13 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Hot Springs 1 Nne station).

When can I plant a garden in Hot Springs National Park, AR?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 5 – Feb 26; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 26, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Hot Springs National Park, 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 Hot Springs National Park, AR get?

About 58 inches of precipitation a year and 1 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).