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

Planting zone for Little Rock, AR

Little Rock, AR is in USDA zone 8a across its 25 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 21 and the first fall frost November 10.

Little Rock on the zone map

Outlined: its 12 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 codes25
Last frostMar 21
First frostNov 10
Growing season234 days

8a 25 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Little Rock, 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 Little Rock, AR

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 21median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 6only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 10median — 10% chance by Oct 29
Growing season234 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 8 and returns around November 21.

From the NOAA station Little Rock Airport Adams Field, AR, elevation 259 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 Little Rock

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 7 – Feb 28
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 10 – Jan 24
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 24 – Feb 7
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 10 – Jan 24
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 4 – Apr 18
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 15 – Sep 29
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 27 – Dec 1
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 21) and first fall frost (Nov 10) 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 72205 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 Little Rock, AR.

Soil in Little Rock, AR

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 72205 is Carnasaw — gravelly silt loam, well drained.

TextureGravelly 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 groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Carnasaw-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 72205; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Little Rock, AR

Summer high92 °Faverage high, July
Winter low31 °Faverage low, January
Hot days76days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights50nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,263base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 29 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 49 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation52.4 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 51 °F, low 31 °F 51°31° JanFebruary: average high 55 °F, low 34 °F 55°34° FebMarch: average high 64 °F, low 42 °F 64°42° MarApril: average high 73 °F, low 50 °F 73°50° AprMay: average high 81 °F, low 59 °F 81°59° MayJune: average high 88 °F, low 68 °F 88°68° JunJuly: average high 92 °F, low 71 °F 92°71° JulAugust: average high 92 °F, low 70 °F 92°70° AugSeptember: average high 85 °F, low 63 °F 85°63° SepOctober: average high 74 °F, low 51 °F 74°51° OctNovember: average high 62 °F, low 40 °F 62°40° NovDecember: average high 53 °F, low 33 °F 53°33° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.57 in precipitation 3.6 JanFebruary: 4.19 in precipitation 4.2 FebMarch: 5.08 in precipitation 5.1 MarApril: 5.29 in precipitation 5.3 AprMay: 5.65 in precipitation 5.7 MayJune: 3.80 in precipitation 3.8 JunJuly: 3.82 in precipitation 3.8 JulAugust: 2.94 in precipitation 2.9 AugSeptember: 3.45 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 4.56 in precipitation 4.6 OctNovember: 4.89 in precipitation 4.9 NovDecember: 5.16 in precipitation 5.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Little Rock Airport Adams Field, AR (7 mi away); precipitation: Little Rock 2.2 N, AR (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Little Rock

722018a
10 to 15 °F
722028a
10 to 15 °F
722038a
10 to 15 °F
722048a
10 to 15 °F
722058a
10 to 15 °F
722068a
10 to 15 °F
722078a
10 to 15 °F
722098a
10 to 15 °F
722108a
10 to 15 °F
722118a
10 to 15 °F
722128a
10 to 15 °F
722148a
10 to 15 °F
722158a
10 to 15 °F
722168a
10 to 15 °F
722178a
10 to 15 °F
722198a
10 to 15 °F
722218a
10 to 15 °F
722228a
10 to 15 °F
722238a
10 to 15 °F
722258a
10 to 15 °F
722278a
10 to 15 °F
722318a
10 to 15 °F
722558a
10 to 15 °F
722608a
10 to 15 °F
722958a
10 to 15 °F

Arkansas planting zones →

Questions about Little Rock

What planting zone is Little Rock, AR?

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

When is the last frost in Little Rock, AR?

The median last spring frost is March 21 and the median first fall frost is November 10 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Little Rock Airport Adams Field station).

When can I plant a garden in Little Rock, AR?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 7 – Feb 28; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 28, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Little Rock, AR?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 29 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Little Rock, AR get?

About 52.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).