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

Planting zone for Ruston, LA

Ruston, LA is in USDA zone 8b across its 3 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 11 and the first fall frost November 16.

Ruston 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.

Zone8b15 to 20 °F
ZIP codes3
Last frostMar 11
First frostNov 16
Growing season248 days

8b 3 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Ruston, LA…

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 Ruston, LA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 11median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 31only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 16median — 10% chance by Oct 31
Growing season248 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 24 and returns around December 1.

From the NOAA station Ruston La Tech, LA, elevation 295 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 Ruston

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 28 – Feb 11
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 28 – Feb 18
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 31 – Jan 14
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 14 – Jan 28
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 18 – Apr 1
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 31 – Jan 14
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 25 – Apr 8
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 21 – Oct 5
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 2 – Dec 7
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 11) and first fall frost (Nov 16) 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 71272 came on Jan 31 — 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 4).

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 Louisiana

503 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Louisiana, and rated by the USDA to survive 15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 68

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican chestnut115 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °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 °F

Shrubs 105

aloe yucca15 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −1 °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 165

American bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican century plant6 ft · blooms indeterminate · high shade tolerance · to 12 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican spongeplant0.5 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −24 °F

Grasses 145

American cupscale3 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −18 °Fautumn bluegrass1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbeaked spikerush3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Fbig bluestem6 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −46 °Fbig cordgrass8 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −3 °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 Ruston, LA.

Soil in Ruston, LA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 71272 is Angie — very fine sandy loam, moderately well drained.

TextureVery fine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.5moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Angie very fine sandy loam, 1 to 3 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 71272; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Ruston, LA

Summer high93 °Faverage high, August
Winter low35 °Faverage low, January
Hot days85days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights46nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,991base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 17 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 00 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation55.6 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 57 °F, low 35 °F 57°35° JanFebruary: average high 61 °F, low 39 °F 61°39° FebMarch: average high 69 °F, low 45 °F 69°45° MarApril: average high 76 °F, low 52 °F 76°52° AprMay: average high 83 °F, low 61 °F 83°61° MayJune: average high 89 °F, low 69 °F 89°69° JunJuly: average high 92 °F, low 72 °F 92°72° JulAugust: average high 93 °F, low 71 °F 93°71° AugSeptember: average high 88 °F, low 65 °F 88°65° SepOctober: average high 78 °F, low 53 °F 78°53° OctNovember: average high 68 °F, low 44 °F 68°44° NovDecember: average high 58 °F, low 38 °F 58°38° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 5.55 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 5.5 JanFebruary: 5.24 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 5.2 FebMarch: 5.38 in precipitation 5.4 MarApril: 5.51 in precipitation 5.5 AprMay: 4.35 in precipitation 4.3 MayJune: 3.85 in precipitation 3.9 JunJuly: 3.61 in precipitation 3.6 JulAugust: 3.81 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 3.80 in precipitation 3.8 SepOctober: 4.79 in precipitation 4.8 OctNovember: 4.27 in precipitation 4.3 NovDecember: 5.45 in precipitation 5.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Ruston La Tech, LA (within 1 mile); precipitation: Ruston La Tech, LA (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Ruston

712708b
15 to 20 °F
712728b
15 to 20 °F
712738b
15 to 20 °F

Louisiana planting zones →

Questions about Ruston

What planting zone is Ruston, LA?

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

When is the last frost in Ruston, LA?

The median last spring frost is March 11 and the median first fall frost is November 16 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ruston La Tech station).

When can I plant a garden in Ruston, LA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Jan 28 – Feb 18; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 18, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Ruston, LA?

Short-day onions: the longest day is 14 h 17 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

How much rain and snow does Ruston, LA get?

About 55.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).