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

Planting zone for Mountain Home, AR

Mountain Home, AR is in USDA zones 7a to 7b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 31 and the first fall frost November 1.

Mountain Home 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.

Zones7a–7b0 to 10 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostMar 31
First frostNov 1
Growing season214 days

7a 1 ZIP   7b 1 ZIP

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Mountain Home, 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 Mountain Home, 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 18only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 1median — 10% chance by Oct 19
Growing season214 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 20 and returns around November 12.

From the NOAA station Mtn Home 1 Nnw, AR, elevation 801 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 Mountain Home

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 6 – Sep 20
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 18 – Nov 22
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 31) and first fall frost (Nov 1) 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 72653 came on Feb 17 — 12 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 1).

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 7a in Arkansas

501 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Arkansas, and rated by the USDA to survive 0 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 69

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 93

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 172

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 144

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 Mountain Home, AR.

Soil in Mountain Home, AR

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 72653 is Doniphan — 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 groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Doniphan very gravelly silt loam, 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 72653; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Mountain Home, AR

Summer high89 °Faverage high, July
Winter low26 °Faverage low, January
Hot days44days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights85nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,511base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 38 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 41 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation50.9 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall8 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 46 °F, low 26 °F 46°26° JanFebruary: average high 51 °F, low 29 °F 51°29° FebMarch: average high 60 °F, low 37 °F 60°37° MarApril: average high 70 °F, low 46 °F 70°46° AprMay: average high 77 °F, low 56 °F 77°56° MayJune: average high 85 °F, low 65 °F 85°65° JunJuly: average high 89 °F, low 69 °F 89°69° JulAugust: average high 89 °F, low 68 °F 89°68° AugSeptember: average high 82 °F, low 60 °F 82°60° SepOctober: average high 71 °F, low 48 °F 71°48° OctNovember: average high 59 °F, low 37 °F 59°37° NovDecember: average high 49 °F, low 29 °F 49°29° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.30 in precipitation, 1.9 in snowfall 3.3❄2 JanFebruary: 3.26 in precipitation, 2.6 in snowfall 3.3❄3 FebMarch: 5.03 in precipitation, 2 in snowfall 5.0❄2 MarApril: 5.60 in precipitation 5.6 AprMay: 5.68 in precipitation 5.7 MayJune: 3.88 in precipitation 3.9 JunJuly: 4.15 in precipitation 4.2 JulAugust: 3.74 in precipitation 3.7 AugSeptember: 3.66 in precipitation 3.7 SepOctober: 3.99 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 4.0 OctNovember: 4.80 in precipitation 4.8 NovDecember: 3.77 in precipitation, 1.2 in snowfall 3.8❄1 Dec

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

ZIP codes in Mountain Home

726537a
0 to 5 °F
726547b
5 to 10 °F

Arkansas planting zones →

Questions about Mountain Home

What planting zone is Mountain Home, AR?

Mountain Home, AR is in USDA hardiness zones 7a to 7b on the 2023 map (7a: 0 to 5 °F; 7b: 5 to 10 °F).

When is the last frost in Mountain Home, AR?

The median last spring frost is March 31 and the median first fall frost is November 1 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mtn Home 1 Nnw station).

When can I plant a garden in Mountain Home, 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 Mountain Home, AR?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 38 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Mountain Home, AR get?

About 50.9 inches of precipitation a year and 8 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).