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

Planting zone for Poplar Bluff, MO

Poplar Bluff, MO is in USDA zones 7a to 7b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 29 and the first fall frost November 5.

Poplar Bluff 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 29
First frostNov 5
Growing season222 days

7a 1 ZIP   7b 1 ZIP

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Poplar Bluff, MO…

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 Poplar Bluff, MO

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 12only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 5median — 10% chance by Oct 22
Growing season222 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 16 and returns around November 15.

From the NOAA station Poplar Bluff, MO, 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 Poplar Bluff

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 10 – Sep 24
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 22 – Nov 26
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 29) and first fall frost (Nov 5) 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 63901 came on Mar 1 — 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 5).

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 Missouri

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

Trees 72

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 85

alternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican beautyberry6 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °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 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 195

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high 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 °F

Grasses 163

alkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican cupscale3 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −18 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBicknell's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbig bluestem6 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −46 °Fblister sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °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 Poplar Bluff, MO.

Soil in Poplar Bluff, MO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 63901 is Clarksville — very gravelly silt loam, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureVery gravelly silt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.3slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter4.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Clarksville very gravelly silt loam, 8 to 15 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 63901; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Poplar Bluff, MO

Summer high91 °Faverage high, July
Winter low26 °Faverage low, January
Hot days58days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights83nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,704base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 41 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 38 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation54.7 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 44 °F, low 26 °F 44°26° JanFebruary: average high 49 °F, low 30 °F 49°30° FebMarch: average high 59 °F, low 38 °F 59°38° MarApril: average high 70 °F, low 47 °F 70°47° AprMay: average high 79 °F, low 58 °F 79°58° MayJune: average high 88 °F, low 67 °F 88°67° JunJuly: average high 91 °F, low 71 °F 91°71° JulAugust: average high 90 °F, low 69 °F 90°69° AugSeptember: average high 83 °F, low 61 °F 83°61° SepOctober: average high 72 °F, low 48 °F 72°48° OctNovember: average high 58 °F, low 38 °F 58°38° NovDecember: average high 47 °F, low 29 °F 47°29° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″January: 3.60 in precipitation 3.6 JanFebruary: 3.85 in precipitation 3.9 FebMarch: 5.72 in precipitation 5.7 MarApril: 6.22 in precipitation 6.2 AprMay: 5.79 in precipitation 5.8 MayJune: 3.81 in precipitation 3.8 JunJuly: 5.34 in precipitation 5.3 JulAugust: 3.75 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 3.42 in precipitation 3.4 SepOctober: 4.01 in precipitation 4.0 OctNovember: 5.08 in precipitation 5.1 NovDecember: 4.10 in precipitation 4.1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Poplar Bluff, MO (2 mi away); precipitation: Poplar Bluff 4.2 Nw, MO (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Poplar Bluff

639017a
0 to 5 °F
639027b
5 to 10 °F

Missouri planting zones →

Questions about Poplar Bluff

What planting zone is Poplar Bluff, MO?

Poplar Bluff, MO 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 Poplar Bluff, MO?

The median last spring frost is March 29 and the median first fall frost is November 5 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Poplar Bluff station).

When can I plant a garden in Poplar Bluff, MO?

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 Poplar Bluff, MO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 41 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Poplar Bluff, MO get?

About 54.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).