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

Planting zone for Magnolia, AR

Magnolia, AR is in USDA zone 8b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 31 and the first fall frost November 2.

Magnolia 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.

Zone8b15 to 20 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostMar 31
First frostNov 2
Growing season218 days

8b 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

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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 Magnolia, AR

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 31median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 17only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 2median — 10% chance by Oct 21
Growing season218 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 14 and returns around November 13.

From the NOAA station Magnolia, AR, elevation 371 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 Magnolia

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 17 – Mar 10
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 20 – Feb 3
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 10 – Mar 24
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 3 – Feb 17
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 20 – Feb 3
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 14 – Apr 28
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 7 – Sep 21
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 19 – Nov 23
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 31) and first fall frost (Nov 2) 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 71754 came on Feb 11 — 3 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 8).

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 8b in Arkansas

521 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Arkansas, and rated by the USDA to survive 15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8b. 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 175

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 154

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 Magnolia, AR.

Soil in Magnolia, AR

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 71754 is Guyton — silt loam, poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter2.25%moderate
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Guyton silt loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes, frequently flooded.

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 71754; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Magnolia, AR

Summer high93 °Faverage high, August
Winter low31 °Faverage low, January
Hot days76days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights58nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,427base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 21 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 57 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation56.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall2 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 55 °F, low 31 °F 55°31° JanFebruary: average high 59 °F, low 34 °F 59°34° FebMarch: average high 68 °F, low 41 °F 68°41° MarApril: average high 75 °F, low 49 °F 75°49° AprMay: average high 82 °F, low 59 °F 82°59° MayJune: average high 89 °F, low 67 °F 89°67° JunJuly: average high 92 °F, low 70 °F 92°70° JulAugust: average high 93 °F, low 69 °F 93°69° AugSeptember: average high 87 °F, low 62 °F 87°62° SepOctober: average high 77 °F, low 50 °F 77°50° OctNovember: average high 66 °F, low 40 °F 66°40° NovDecember: average high 57 °F, low 33 °F 57°33° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″2″4″6″January: 4.48 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 4.5❄1 JanFebruary: 4.69 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 4.7❄1 FebMarch: 6.55 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 6.5 MarApril: 5.43 in precipitation 5.4 AprMay: 5.56 in precipitation 5.6 MayJune: 3.81 in precipitation 3.8 JunJuly: 3.31 in precipitation 3.3 JulAugust: 3.63 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 3.45 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 5.03 in precipitation 5.0 OctNovember: 4.73 in precipitation 4.7 NovDecember: 5.64 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 5.6 Dec

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

ZIP codes in Magnolia

717538b
15 to 20 °F
717548b
15 to 20 °F

Arkansas planting zones →

Questions about Magnolia

What planting zone is Magnolia, AR?

Magnolia, AR is in USDA hardiness zone 8b on the 2023 map (8b: 15 to 20 °F).

When is the last frost in Magnolia, AR?

The median last spring frost is March 31 and the median first fall frost is November 2 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Magnolia station).

When can I plant a garden in Magnolia, AR?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 17 – Mar 10; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 7, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Magnolia, AR?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 21 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Magnolia, AR get?

About 56.3 inches of precipitation a year and 2 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).