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

Planting zone for Russellville, AR

Russellville, AR is in USDA zone 8a across its 4 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 29 and the first fall frost November 2.

Russellville 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 codes4
Last frostMar 29
First frostNov 2
Growing season219 days

8a 4 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 Russellville, AR

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 29median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 13only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 2median — 10% chance by Oct 20
Growing season219 daysfrost-free, median

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

From the NOAA station Russellville Municipal Airport, AR, elevation 404 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 Russellville

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 15 – Mar 8
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 18 – Feb 1
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 8 – Mar 22
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 1 – Feb 15
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 18 – Feb 1
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 12 – Apr 26
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
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 29) 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 72802 came on Feb 14 — 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 22).

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 Russellville, AR.

Soil in Russellville, AR

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 72802 is Mountainburg — stony fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureStony fine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.8%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Mountainburg stony fine sandy loam, 1 to 12 percent slopes, rocky.

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 72802; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Russellville, AR

Summer high93 °Faverage high, July
Winter low30 °Faverage low, January
Hot days73days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights77nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,204base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 33 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 46 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation52.5 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 50 °F, low 30 °F 50°30° JanFebruary: average high 55 °F, low 33 °F 55°33° FebMarch: average high 64 °F, low 41 °F 64°41° MarApril: average high 73 °F, low 49 °F 73°49° AprMay: average high 80 °F, low 59 °F 80°59° MayJune: average high 88 °F, low 68 °F 88°68° JunJuly: average high 93 °F, low 71 °F 93°71° JulAugust: average high 92 °F, low 70 °F 92°70° AugSeptember: average high 86 °F, low 62 °F 86°62° SepOctober: average high 74 °F, low 50 °F 74°50° OctNovember: average high 62 °F, low 39 °F 62°39° NovDecember: average high 52 °F, low 32 °F 52°32° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.66 in precipitation 3.7 JanFebruary: 3.60 in precipitation 3.6 FebMarch: 4.97 in precipitation 5.0 MarApril: 5.33 in precipitation 5.3 AprMay: 5.53 in precipitation 5.5 MayJune: 3.91 in precipitation 3.9 JunJuly: 4.16 in precipitation 4.2 JulAugust: 3.78 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 3.90 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 4.16 in precipitation 4.2 OctNovember: 4.86 in precipitation 4.9 NovDecember: 4.61 in precipitation 4.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Russellville Municipal Airport, AR (4 mi away); precipitation: Russellville 7.3 Ene, AR (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Russellville

728018a
10 to 15 °F
728028a
10 to 15 °F
728118a
10 to 15 °F
728128a
10 to 15 °F

Arkansas planting zones →

Questions about Russellville

What planting zone is Russellville, AR?

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

When is the last frost in Russellville, AR?

The median last spring frost is March 29 and the median first fall frost is November 2 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Russellville Municipal Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Russellville, AR?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 15 – Mar 8; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 5, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Russellville, AR?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 33 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Russellville, AR get?

About 52.5 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).